West Virginia Land Trust Inc

THE WVLT PROTECTS LAND WITH SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION VALUES THROUGH THE USE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS, AND BY WORKING WITH A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF PARTNERS TO ACCELERATE AND EXPAND CONSERVATION.

CONSERVATION OF SPECIAL PLACES: WVLT PROTECTS LAND BY ACQUIRING PROPERTIES IN FEE, THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, OR BY FACILITATING ACQUISITIONS (THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS OR VIA LOANS) FOR OTHER ENTITIES, INCLUDING PUBLIC AGENCIES AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WVLT CONSIDERS OPPORTUNITIES ACCORDING TO ITS CONSERVATION CRITERIA AND AN ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTIES' CONSERVATION VALUES WITH AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS OF DUE DILIGENCE. IT ACQUIRES LANDS IN FEE THROUGH PURCHASE (FOR WHICH IT RAISES FUNDS), BARGAIN SALES, OR DONATIONS. FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, WVLT WORKS WITH VOLUNTARY LANDOWNERS AND EVALUATES PROPERTIES ACCORDING TO ITS INTERNAL CRITERIA AND PURPOSES AS DEFINED BY THE IRS CODE. EASEMENTS MAY BE ACQUIRED THROUGH PURCHASE, BARGAIN SALES, OR DONATIONS.

STEWARDSHIP (PROPERTY AND EASEMENT MAINTENANCE): UPON SECURING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THE WVLT INITIATES AN ANNUAL MONITORING PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT THE COVENANTS IN THE EASEMENT ARE ADHERED TO AND THAT THE CONSERVATION VALUES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED ARE PROTECTED IN PERPETUITY. IF THERE ARE VIOLATIONS OF THE EASEMENT, THE WVLT WILL WORK WITH THE OWNER TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO MITIGATE ANY DAMAGES AND IF NECESSARY, WILL LEGALLY DEFEND THE EASEMENT IN COURT. WHEN THE LAND TRUST ACQUIRES PROPERTY IN FEE, IT DETERMINES THE APPROPRIATE USES(S) FOR THE LAND AND ELABORATES A MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT SERVES THOSE USES. THOSE USES ARE DEVELOPED WITH MAXIMUM PUBLIC BENEFIT IN MIND. ON A PRESERVE THAT IS TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, THOSE USES MAY INCLUDE TRAIL NETWORKS, STREAMSIDE PROTECTION, OR INTERACTIVE SERVICES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

PUBLIC EDUCATION: AS THE ONLY STATEWIDE LAND TRUST, THE WVLT WORKS TO EDUCATE LOCAL GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE VALUE OF LAND CONSERVATION, BOTH FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE PERSPECTIVE. STRATEGIES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF WEB BASED MATERIALS, DISTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS PRINTED MATERIALS, TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATION TO CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND ATTENDANCE AT COMMUNITY FORUMS. WVLT ALSO HOSTS (ALONE OR IN PARTNERSHIPS) OUTINGS SUCH AS HIKES, RIVER FLOATS, AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO ENJOY THE EXPANDED PORTFOLIO OF CONSERVED LANDS AROUND THE STATE.