Your Land and Your Legacy
By Marilyn Shy, Kalkaska Conservation District
As an owner of agricultural, forested or wildlife land, you are a steward of one of Kalkaska County’s greatest natural heritages. No matter your acreage, you are in a position to shape the landscape of your region for generations to come.
Perhaps you are already implementing conservation on your land. You may be controlling erosion, planting trees, managing invasive pests, creating pollinator and wildlife habitats. These practices, especially when performed on a large scale, can definitely influence our water quality, forests, and wildlife, all for the better.
But will your management wishes continue on your land for the long-term?
If you are passionate about protecting your land and its natural heritage, now is the time to make a succession plan for the future. Estate taxes are one good reason. Taxes can be so high that they sometimes force heirs to sell. In addition, future owners might not share your values or concern for the land, resulting in development, subdivision, or harmful practices.
Until you have a plan, your legacy is only a good intention. This is a lengthy and detailed process, but an important one. The sooner you familiarize yourself with your options and begin to take steps towards securing your legacy, the more likely you are to succeed.
Here are a few options of land conservation programs you may want to consider:
Land Donation – Donating land for conservation purposes is one option. The Kalkaska Conservation District has the legal authority to accept land donations, and they will work with you to come up with a long-term plan that will manage the land for environmental/agricultural/forestry education. This option may be best if you do not wish to donate land to heirs; own property you no longer use; own highly appreciated property; have substantial real-estate holdings and wish to reduce tax burdens; or would like to be relieved of the responsibility of managing and caring for the land.
Donation with Life Tenancy – It is possible to donate your land now, while continuing to live on and/or enjoy the property for the duration of your life. Such a donation would relieve you of some of the burdens of ownership and could possibly provide tax benefits.
Examples of land donations to Conservation Districts are many and varied. In Oceana County, a husband and wife donated 80 acres to the Conservation District in 2019. The District has agreed to protect the property, maintain its ecological health, and refrain from developing the property. Visitors are welcome to hike the trails and enjoy the natural surroundings. In addition, the District plans to hold educational events including birding field trips, snowshoe hikes and owl prowls. In both Alger and Manistee Counties, individual parcels were donated to the respective Districts and are used in various ways. The Manistee Conservation District has performed some research and conducted educational demonstrations on controlling non-native invasive autumn olive, Scots pine and black locust. They have also initiated native wildflower and grass experiments with two plots comparing different methods of site prep and planning.
Land stewardship is no small task. Thankfully, there are public resources to support you in your efforts. From the start, it is important to know your options as well as your management goals for your land. The decisions you make now will have impacts far into the future.
For more information on resources available to help landowners with land donation, or succession and estate planning, contact Mark Randolph or Renee Penny at 231-258-3307, or email Mark at mark.randolph@macd.org or Renee at renee.penny@macd.org.