The Conservation Fund Partners in Land Water Conservation

The Conservation Fund Partners in Land Water Conservation The Increasing Role of Conservation Organizations in Forestland Conservation Rex Boner rrboner@aol. con 770 -414 -0211

Conservation Mission The Conservation Fund forges partnerships to conserve America’s legacy of land water resources. Through land acquisition, sustainable programs, and leadership training, the Fund and its partners demonstrate sustainable conservation solutions emphasizing the integration of economic and environmental goals.

Conservation Results Acres Protected Since 1985: 5. 4 Million Fair Market Value: $2. 9 Billion Purchase Price: $2. 1 Billion

One of the Nation’s Top Rated Nonprofits 1% Fundraising Cost 96% Program Allocation “A+” Grade for Unsurpassed Effectiveness and Efficiency-American Institute of Philanthropy “Four star” rating for exceeding industry standards -Charity Navigator Rated one of America’s Top 100 Charities by Worth and Forbes Magazines

Partners in Conservation Public Agencies Foundations Corporations Nonprofits Individuals

Conservation Programs Land Conservation: Assists government agencies and nonprofit organizations to acquire and conserve land across the country. Sustainable Programs: Demonstrates market-based solutions for challenging environmental issues. Leadership Training: Through courses, workshops and seminars, serves as a national resource for land conservation professionals.

Working Forests Since 1985, the Fund has conserved more than 800, 000 acres of working forests, including: q. Champion Forest, NY, VT, NH q. Edisto River, SC q. Cumberland Forest, TN q. Glatfelter Forest, MD q. Middle Neches River, TX q. Chesapeake Forest, MD, VA, DE q. Adirondack State Forest, NY q. Garcia River Forest, CA q. Okefenokee, GA 300, 000 acres 7, 200 acres 75, 000 acres 25, 000 acres 33, 000 acres 76, 000 acres 257, 000 acres 24, 000 acres 16, 000 acres

Results in Georgia Through partnerships, over 60, 000 acres have been acquired to assure their continued natural value. ü 16, 000 acres at Okefenokee donated by Du. Pont to TCF, timber and recreation rights reserved by International Paper, timber sustainably managed ü Over 15, 000 acres in the East Gulf Coastal Plain at the Georgia-Florida border in partnership with Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Tall Timbers Research Station, others ü With GFC, TCF protected 2, 500 acres at Callaway Gardens through the first Forest Legacy Conservation Easement in Georiga.

Importance of Forestlands in Georgia q Functioning Ecological Systems q Watershed Protection q Water Quality q Air Quality q Wildlife Habitat q Recreation q Quality of Life q Forest Products q Economic Impacts

Threats to forestland: Growing population and development pressure n Rising Value of land n Property taxes based on “highest and best” use n Disposition of Industrial timberland tracts n Fragmentation n Loss of markets and competing markets n

© 2004 R. B. Hammer and V. C. Radeloff n Project conducted by Roger B. Hammer and Volker C. Radeloff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison n For more information contact Volker C. Radeloff at: – radeloff@wisc. edu – 608 -263 -4349

Forests are the dominant land use in the south 215 million acres á n n n Where we face conversion is where it hurts the most 60 % of the nation’s and 18% of the world’s industrial roundwood output Over 1. 5 million jobs billions of dollars to the South’s economy (SFRP) http: //sfrponline. net/

Changes in Ownership in the South ôFrom 1980 to 2000, 28 million acres (13%) of Southern forest changed hands (SFRP) ôFrom 1996 to 2004, 18 million acres of Southern forest passed out of industry ownership (SFRP) ô 88% of forests are in private ownership ô 59% are family-owned forests ôForest Service researchers forecast an additional net loss of 23 million acres of forest land by 2050

Georgia n 24. 2 million total acres of forest n 22. 3 million acres, 92% is in private ownership n Once sold, large forestlands often become fragmented and often converted to non-forest uses

What this means for the future of Working Forests q Collaboration is needed! • Traditional • Non-traditional q Important role for public lands q Important role for private lands

The Upside n n n Many opportunities among challenges Diverse conservation tools Vast opportunities for collaboration Public land protection continuing Expanding conservation activities with private landowners A growing pool of environmental supporters

Methods for Conserving Forestland q Fee Simple- the outright purchase of land including the title and the rights. - Often utilized by public agencies q Conservation Easements- conveys specific land rights to another party - Voluntary and permanent legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified organization - Landowner retains ownership and many uses of the property - Appropriate tool for private landowners q Other less than fee simple transactions

Champion Northern Forest New York, New Hampshire, Vermont 300, 000 acres, $76 million in 1999 v 1 st large implementation of working forest easement and ecological preservation in a market transaction in multiple states v Transferred most ecologically sensitive areas to public ownership and sold remaining forestland to private forest investors subject to conservation easement.

Chesapeake Forest DE, MD, VA 76, 000 acres, $44 million in 1999 v collaboration with a TIMO v Hancock Timber Resource Group, the State of Maryland the Richard King Mellon Foundation v sustainable forest plan for 30, 000 acres on Maryland’s Eastern Shore v balance of objectives – protecting wildlife habitat, enhancing water quality and fostering sustainable economic development

Cumberland Forest Eastern Tennessee 75, 000 acres, $ 10 million in 2002 v First large use of divided surface rights and timber rights. v TCF bought the surface estate and transferred it to State of Tennessee to be managed as a wildlife management area v Another party bought the timber rights v Shared-Use Agreement directs management of property v Timber management must meet BMP and SFI standards; extra wide SMZ’s

TCF Owned Forestlands Management of 64, 000 acres of working forest: n 10, 000 acres in Eastern North Carolina at the Palmetto -Peartree Preserve – Red Cockaded Woodpecker mitigation bank for NCDOT – Active timber harvesting and ecotourism program n 9, 000 acres in Virginia – Active timber harvesting and watershed protection

Carbon Sequestration: From Fallow Fields to Fertile Forests áTCF in cooperation with several partners has protected 24, 000 acres through our carbon sequestration program Partners include: Entergy (Red River NWR, LA) Detroit Edison (Red River NWR, LA) Chevron Texaco (Lower Mississippi River Valley) American Electric Power (Catahoula NWR, LA) Reliant Energy (Old Sabine Bottom WMA, TX) Cinergy (Obion Creek WMA, KY) Power. Tree Carbon Company (Lower Mississippi River Valley) Many opportunities here: help us expand this effective program

What made these projects successful? • Compelling arguments for funding (function of conservation values and politicalcontext) • Collaboration with private investment partners • Price and funding leverage; all included state funds • Willingness to compromise and creativity in developing protection strategies • Understanding of resource management issues • Ability to complete complex transactions

General Principles for Successful Landscape Scale Sustainable Forestry Ü Seek common ground; focus on areas of agreement Ü Seek permanent protection of working forestlands Ü Seek partnerships, including non-traditional partners Ü Consider non-timber values and importance of forestlands Ü Keep large forestland tracts intact Ü Be open-minded and creative; split legal interests will continue to be one model to pursue

General Principles for Successful Landscape Scale Sustainable Forestry Ü Focus on connectivity and watersheds Ü Real Estate keys are location, location Ü Sustainable forestry keys are collaboration, collaboration Ü Involve local communities • They are the beneficiaries of the jobs, water quality protection, wildlife habitat, etc; they need to better understand support sustainable forestry Ü As forestlands are lost, everyone loses - foresters, treehuggers and wildlife

Questions ? Rex R. Boner The Conservation Fund 770 -414 -0211 rrboner@aol. com