Texas Agricultural Land Trust

TO CONSERVE THE TEXAS HERITAGE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE HABITATS.

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT WORKING LANDS: TALT PARTNERS WITH LANDOWNERS WHO SEEK DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, AND MITIGATION BANKS. TALT STAFF PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT, RESPONSIVE AND EXPERIENCED SERVICE FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. TALT WILL THEN MONITOR AND STEWARD THESE EASEMENTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. TALT'S PROCESSES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO INCORPORATE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FROM THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE (LTA) AND FROM MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP OF RANGELAND TRUSTS (PORT). TALT EARNED AN ACCREDIATION SEAL IN 2019 FROM THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION. THIS IS AWARDED TO LAND TRUSTS MEETING THE HIGHEST NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE AND CONSERVATION PERMANENCE. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)(CONTINUED FROM PART III) TALT CLOSED 4 EASEMENTS IN THE TAX YEAR BRINGING ACRES UNDER TALT HELD CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO OVER 250,000. TALT IS THE LARGEST STATE-BASED LAND TRUST IN TEXAS.

OUTREACH: TALT'S OUTREACH WORK FALLS INTO TWO CATEGORIES: EDUCATE LANDOWNERS AND THEIR ADVISORS ON HOW TO UTILIZE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT, CONSERVE AND PASS LAND DOWN TO FUTURE GENERATIONS; AND EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM PRIVATE WORKING LANDS. THIS INCLUDES CLEAN AND PLENTIFUL DRINKING WATER, AFFORDABLE FOOD AND FIBER, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. TALT COMMUNICATES THE NEED TO PROTECT THESE LANDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL TEXANS.EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS OCCUR IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FORMATS AND REACH DIVERSE AUDIENCES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)(CONTINUED FROM PART III) DURING THE TAX YEAR, SOME OF TALT'S OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDED: HOSTING AN INNOVATION SUMMIT IN GRANDBURY; SPONSORSHIP/ATTENDANCE OR INFORMATION BOOTHS AT THE PARTNERSHIP OF RANGELAND TRUST NATIONAL MEETING, TEXAS LAND TRUST COUNCIL CONFERENCE, KING RANCH SYMPOSIUM, TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS AND TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTIONS. NUMEROUS FAMILIES ACROSS TEXAS CONTINUED TO BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF ONE-ON-ONE VISITS FROM TALT STAFF REGARDING CONSERVATION EASEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND VALUES. TALT ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ON STATEWIDE WORKSHOPS GEARED TOWARD EDUCATING STAFF ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AS A LAND MANAGEMENT TOOL. TALT ALSO EXPANDED AN UNDERSTANDING OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND MARKETS TO LANDOWNERS THROUGH ITS NEW SERIES, AN INNOVATORS GUIDE TO ECOSYSTEM SERVICE MARKETPLACES.THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - TALT EDUCATED URBAN AUDIENCES REGARDING THE PUBLIC BENEFITS OF RURAL WORKING LANDS. ADDITIONALLY, TALT STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS PENNED SEVERAL OPINION EDITORIALS WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE VALUE OF PRIVATE WORKING LANDS IN RESPECT TO CURRENT EVENTS. THESE WERE PUBLISHED IN MAJOR TEXAS NEWSPAPERS.