Upcoming Information Sessions.

The New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT) will be hosting a series of information sessions concerning conservation tools available to farmers and woodlot owners interested in keeping their land in sustainable, healthy production for future generations.  These working lands conservation easements allow landowners to maintain ownership and production of their land while protecting all or part of their land from certain development and/or activities (ie: subdivision, clearcutting, ect…). These voluntary agreements are developed jointly by the land owner and NBCLT and are specific to each individual and their situation. The NBCLT is the only group in N.B. to offer this kind of working land conservation tool and we want to get the word out to farmers and woodlot owners who may be interested in learning more about the specifics of working land conservation easements.

Please join us at any of the following community information sessions:

Baie Verte – Jan 19th -7:00-8:30pm
Baie Verte Community Hall at 387 Rte 970, Baie Verte, NBCocagne – Jan 26th -7:00-8:30pm
Ecole Entrepreneuriel Communautaire Blanche Bourgeois, route 535, Cocagne, N.B.

Cormier Village – Feb 2nd -7:00-8:30pm

Eco-Parc, Cormier Village, 645 on route 945

 Sackville – Feb 9th -7:00-8:30pm
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #26, 15 Lorne St. Sackville N.B.

Moncton - Feb 15th – -7:00-8:30pm,
Press Club,160 Assomption blvd. Moncton, N.B

Memramcook – March 1st, Location TBA. With New Brunswick Nature Trust (NBNT) and Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society (CPAWS)

*Sessions will be followed by workshops/discussions in late February and March. Dates TBA.

Who is The New Brunswick Community Land Trust?
The New Brunswick Community Land Trust (NBCLT) is a member based, volunteer, non-profit organization focused on holding conservation easements that ensure that farmland and woodlots are maintained in ecologically sustainable production and available for use by future generations of New Brunswickers.

Conservation Easements
A Conservation Easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement which is developed between a landowner and a land trust. It outlines the land use restrictions which the owner wishes to place on their working land, so that it remains in sustainable production through time. A conservation easement allows land to be sold or passed on to the next generation. However, the future owners are required to abide by the stewardship principles of the Conservation Easement. As holder of the Conservation Easement, NBCLT is required to inspect the property annually, to ensure that land use and management practices adhere to the Conservation Easement.

A ‘Working Lands’ Land Trust

Working farmland and woodlots are fundamental to New Brunswick’s rural communities and their economic development. Good stewardship of these lands ensures that they remain productive and available to contribute to our prosperity in the future.

The New Brunswick Community Land Trust is eligible to provide landowners with a number of conservation tools, which ensures their working lands remain available for sustainable production into the future.

The NBCLT can assist landowners by holding, and proving stewardship oversight of, a Conservation Easement, by holding land in trust, or by assisting with an Ecological Gift application process.

Conservation Easement

A Conservation Easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement which is developed between a landowner and a land trust. It outlines the land use restrictions which the owner wishes to place on their working land, so that it remains in sustainable production through time.

A conservation easement allows land to be sold or passed on to the next generation. However, the future owners are required to abide by the stewardship principles of the Conservation Easement. As holder of the Conservation Easement, NBCLT is required to inspect the property annually, to ensure that land use and management practices adhere to the Conservation Easement.

Land Held in Trust

NBCLT is eligible to hold donated lands in trust and provide stewardship oversight that ensures the land remains in sustainable production and contributes to local rural economy.

Tax Benefit for Land Conservation

Landowners, who place a conservation easement on their property, or donate all or part of their property in trust, are eligible for an Income Tax credit. The value of credit is established by the value of the donated property, or the difference between fair market value and the (reduced) value created by the conservation easement restrictions.

Ecological Gifts

Landowners, who protect natural and undisturbed habitats through a conservation easement or land donation with NBCLT, may also be eligible for enhanced Tax and Capital Gains benefits through Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program

(www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/ecogifts or phone 506-364-5049). This program provides favourable income tax treatment for gifts, or conservation easements, of ecologically sensitive land.

The NBCLT is an approved recipient of Ecological Gifts under this program and will assist eligible donors with the application process.