THE VIRGIN RIVER LAND PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION

THE VALUE OF OPEN LANDS

Open Lands and greenway corridors which are readily accessible or are visible from within a city or town provide RELIEF from urban development and help preserve an area's unique HERITAGE. In the preservation of open land are opportunities to provide for recreation, to protect the scenic and historical character of a community, to conserve critical habitat, and to encourage sustained AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY.

Incorporating planned open spaces into a community maintains and increases PROPERTY VALUES, attracts residents and businesses who seek quality of life for their families and employees, and expands local business opportunities.

Open lands are a valuable community resource which must be carefully protected if they are to be preserved for the enjoyment of FUTURE GENERATIONS. To be most effective, long-term protection of these lands is best accomplished through purchases or donations of land and development rights -- utilizing the tax-deductible status and tools of a private, nonprofit organization known as a LAND TRUST.

DISCUSSING ALTERNATIVES

With accelerated population growth and economic development in the Virgin River Basin, the open lands we currently enjoy are changing forever.

The Land Preservation Association provides information and assistance to communities and individuals interested in open lands preservation. A goal of the organization is to FACILITATE thoughtful discussion which builds COOPERATION between private landowners and governments and engenders trust between diverse community interests.

The Land Preservation Association uses ALTERNATIVES to land use regulation which voluntarily protect open land and meet the needs of the private property owner. These techniques include purchases of land or development rights at fair market value, tax deductions for CHARITABLE DONATIONS of land or conservation easements, and a unique combination of purchase and donation known as "bargain sale."

A REPUTATION OF SUCCESS

The Virgin River Land Preservation Association has worked successfully -- in partnership with both private and public interests -- on the following projects:

• Developers and homebuilders have joined in partnership with the land trust to establish the Critical Lands Acquisition Fund which will be used for the preservation of critical open lands throughout Washington County.



• The Natural Areas Plan is being developed with the help of a diverse steering committee to help guide and focus open lands preservation acquisition in Washington County.



• Ongoing fundraising which enables the land trust to purchase sensitive lands and negotiate conservation easements with private landowners to preserve open space uses.



• A volunteer program has been established to assist with clean-up and revegetation of the Virgin River Parkway.

WHAT IS A LAND TRUST?

Land trusts are local, regional, or statewide nonprofit organizations directly involved in protecting open land resources for the PUBLIC BENEFIT. They can protect farmlands, wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, ranches, watersheds, coastlines, river corridors, wetlands, and trails --whatever kind of open land is important to the communities and regions where they operate.

By purchasing land or by holding donated property or easements, private land trusts can protect land that governments cannot. Furthermore, it is land preserved in PERPETUITY, which increases a community's confidence in their ability to plan for the future.