Why give land to a conservation trust?
A foremost reason for many such gifts is that the landowner sees it as a means of ensuring his property of forever remaining untrammeled in its natural state, while freeing him of its upkeep and the mounting taxes upon it. Aside from this, there are usually substantial tax benefits to such gifts. The Federal Government encourages gifts of real property to public and certain nonprofit organizations by providing income tax advantages, capital gains savings and estate taxbenefits. In addition, certain State tax deductions are allowable and local property taxes may be eliminated or significantly reduced, depending on the extent of the interests in lands which are given.