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The
Northwood Alliance, Incorporated (NWA) is a nonprofit conservation
organization registered in the state of Wisconsin and with the IRS as a
501(c)3. The Northwood Alliance acts
as an advocate for the local communities by educating, strengthening environmental
networking and assisting in local action.
Currently, one of the top conservation concerns in
Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the parcelization of forestlands and the pursuant
development, largely consisting of second homes. This trend not only threatens the
ecological communities of the area, but stands to change the way of life
for residents and visitors alike.
A
glimmer of hope lies in the activity of local land trusts. These organizations work with land owners
on land protection agreements, called conservation easements, to develop a
land use strategy with conservation as a primary goal. When executing a conservation easement
the landowner will usually donate the development rights to a land trust,
receiving a tax deduction and assurance that development or fragmentation
will be perpetually restricted on their lands.
Many
landowners who consider donating a portion of their property value to a
land trust are not prepared for the costs they may incur, and this amount
may in some cases offset their tax deduction amounts. These expenses may add up from the
appraisal work, the baseline legal documentation, the monitoring fund, and
so on.
The Northwood Alliance, Inc. has designed a program in
order to network and garner support from northwoods
conservation enthusiasts to help offset the expenses landowners may face
when entering into a conservation easement.
As a community education and conservation action advocate, NWA
understands the benefits to a community when a parcel with conservation
value is protected. Adjoining
landowners may enjoy increased property values while sharing the long term
tranquility and aesthetic values from their neighbors’ conservation choice. It is only fitting that benefiting
members of the community support these efforts. Not only serving human needs, NWA
recognizes the responsibilities we share in environmental protection, and
the goals of the Land Conservation Initiative include habitat preservation,
protection of ground and surface water, and biodiversity maintenance.
The
Northwood Alliance Land Conservation Initiative is not a land trust, but
will act as a supporting partner to land trusts involved in our project
locales. We value the relationship
we have with Keweenaw Land Trust and the Northwoods Land Trust and with the
members of the sustainable forestry community such as Partners in Forestry
Cooperative.
Please
contact us for more information or with any questions. On request we will share specific locations
and projects with potential donors and partners, and we welcome your
suggestions.
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