RD108 - Virginia Outdoors Foundation Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014


Executive Summary:
Fiscal year 2014 was a resounding success for land conservation in Virginia. VOF protected nearly 55,000 new acres of farmland, forestland, and other open space on 196 easements—our fourth-biggest year ever. That is a rate of more than six acres protected every hour. VOF now protects more than 750,000 acres statewide. We thank the new easement donors for their generosity, and also appreciate all of the support we have received from our partners and friends.

Over the years we have received many questions about who is using the easement program, the role of the tax incentives, and the value of what we’re protecting. In October 2014, we commissioned a survey to answer some of these questions. After talking to more than 600 VOF easement donors across the state, we learned a great deal about just how effective the program has been at achieving multiple goals of the Commonwealth.

For instance, 90% of the landowners we spoke to said they managed the protected land for agricultural production or forestry. This is significant when you consider than these activities represent the number one industry in the Commonwealth, contributing roughly $70 billion a year to the economy.

Most of these landowners said that the state tax credits for donating easements were an important factor in their decision to protect their land, and many of them said the tax incentives were essential. Furthermore, 61% of these landowners said they have reinvested their tax credits back into their farming and forestry operations, with a fair number of landowners expanding and even starting new operations. This demonstrates that the tax credits are not just an effective incentive for protecting Virginia’s natural resources and working lands, but also a tool for protecting our economy.

About 70% of the landowners told us they used the tax credits to implement land management practices that benefit water, soil, wildlife, or forest quality or that provide other conservation benefits. This means that the conservation benefits are extending beyond the protections afforded by the easement.

Finally, 96% of the respondents said they have recommended or would recommend to another landowner donating a conservation easement to VOF. We think their satisfaction stems largely from the flexibility and high level of service provided by our programs. Every decision is driven by a desire to maintain workable, livable, enjoyable landscapes.

What we have achieved together since 1966 is an amazing accomplishment—arguably the most successful voluntary land conservation program in the nation. However, our work is not finished. We look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

/s/ Brett Glymph
Executive Director