|
Goal 1.
Ensure that existing funding programs and incentives for land conservation
are maintained at current levels and increase with time.
(Within each goal, issues are listed in order
of priority.)
Knowles-Nelson Stewardship
Fund Read more »
GWC will work to ensure that the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund
is reauthorized and that current funding levels are maintained at
$60 million/year or increased. We will launch a campaign for reauthorization,
and will hire a full-time Campaign Director to coordinate the campaign.
We will promote and celebrate the Stewardship Fund’s accomplishments
and will lobby to thwart attacks.
GWC Capacity Grant
In order to avoid cuts to our DNR grant we will cultivate supporters
in the legislature and work closely with the DNR to track potential
changes to our grants. We will also partner with other non-profits
who receive DNR grants and create a watchdog strategy during budget
sessions.
Conservation easements
If any legislation adversely affecting conservation easements arises
in the Wisconsin legislature, Gathering Waters will take a lead
role in opposing it. On the other hand, if favorable conservation
easement legislation is introduced, we will take a lead role in
supporting it.
Goal 2.
Promote new funding and incentives for private land conservation.
Working Lands Initiative
– Purchase of Development Rights & Tax Incentives
Read more »
Vicki Elkin serves on the Working Lands Initiative Task Force to
represent the interest of the land trust community. GWC believes
that the state should create a Purchase of Development Rights program
akin to the Stewardship Fund (but using a different funding source)
to purchase easements on keystone farms and forests. In addition,
the State should consider tax credits and capital gains exemptions
to protect farmland. We will advocate for these programs to be included
in the final proposal.
Managed Forest Law- Grants
program
This was proposed by Governor Doyle in his Conserve Wisconsin agenda.
GWC supports a MFL grants program and would like to see land trusts
included on the granting board. We will work with the DNR, 1000
Friends, and The Nature Conservancy to identify bill sponsors/co-sponsors
and promote the program as it moves through the legislature.
Forest Legacy
This was proposed by Governor Doyle in his Conserve Wisconsin agenda.
Gathering Waters Conservancy supports the creation of a State Forest
Legacy program to buy easements on working forest lands. We will
work with the DNR, 1000 Friends, and The Nature Conservancy to identify
bill sponsors/co-sponsors and promote the program as it moves through
the legislature.
Property Tax Assessment
GWC hopes to provide assessors with more direction about how to
assess land covered by a conservation easement either through legislation
or administratively. We will work with the Department of Revenue
to update the Assessor’s manual.
Goal 3.
Work with agencies to ensure that programs are favorable to land
trusts and landowners in Wisconsin.
Conservation Program Implementation
GWC works with agencies to implement specific programs to benefit
Wisconsin land conservation and serves as a liaison between these
agencies and land trusts. We will continue to serve on advisory
committees for agency programs and respond to questions from agency
representatives and the land trust community. Committees on which
we serve include:
- Stewardship Advisory Council
- WI Working Lands Initiative
- DNR Environmental Advisory Group
- Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee
- Statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
Plan Advisory Committee
- WI Prescribed Fire Council
- DNR Landowner Incentive Program Advisory Team
- St. Croix Conservation Collaboration
- Captive Insurance Working Group
- WI Coastal Management Program Coastal &
Estuarine Land Conservation Plan Advisory Committee
- Land Trust Alliance's Federal Policy Council
Goal 4.
Encourage land conservation support at all levels of government.
County and Local Level
GWC serves as a resource for land trusts and local units of government.
We will track and share information about land conservation programs
at the local level.
Federal Level
GWC assists the Land Trust Alliance as they promote federal reforms,
tax incentives, the Farm Bill, and a national accreditation program.
We mobilize the Wisconsin land trust community to advocate for these
programs.
Other issues that GWC
is tracking and will act on if appropriate:
- Park districts
- Use-value taxation
- Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)
- Property tax exemptions for land trusts
- Public Trust doctrine
- Managed Forest Law
- Smart Growth
|
