Natural Lands — the magazine of Natural Lands fall/winter 2020, issue 157 | Page 12

10 easement is recorded at the county Recorder of Deeds where it is public record . This is when we officially celebrate !
forever . one year at a time . So what happens next ? How do all parties ensure that the agreement is honored year after year ? This is where land trust monitors begin their important work . Natural Lands staff members spend about 700 hours every year monitoring the conservation easements we hold , plus many more on general easement administration . Easement monitors visit the property , walk the entirety of the land , and note any changing conditions . If the landowner wishes , they can accompany the monitor on the site visit .
“ Usually site visits are pretty uneventful ,” said Megan Boatright , graphic information systems program director and former easement monitor . “ But I ’ ll never forget the time I was out at a property in Montgomery County .
Monitoring an eased property
essential philanthropy .
A successful conservation outcome
project ’ s cost ,” said Jack Stefferud . “ It
cover staff time . Over the last 14 years
relies on many factors : landowners
can take years for a land transaction
we have leveraged the Foundation ’ s
willing to sell or ease their property ,
to go from early conversations to the
generous , multi-year grants to protect
a supportive community , a qualified
final paperwork . The grants we get
40 properties totaling 3,871 acres with
buyer , and — last but certainly not
from the state , county , and municipal-
a combined value of more than $ 55
Mae Axelrod ( both )
least — money to make it all happen .
“ Unfortunately , 50 percent from the state and 50 percent from the county doesn ’ t equal 100 percent of a
ities don ’ t always cover staff time or unforeseen expenses .”
What is needed is a source of committed , flexible funding that can serve as either the first dollars pledged to a
million . In my books , that ’ s a ‘ wow .’”
Peter Williamson relies on funding from the Foundation to invest time working through transactions in Delaware County , which hasn ’ t had the
project or as the last mile of funding
dedicated funding of other counties in
used to fill the gaps in what is avail-
our region until very recently .
able through public grants .
“ There isn ’ t a whole lot of open
Enter Virginia Cretella Mars Foun-
space left in Delaware County ,” Peter
dation , a charitable organization that ,
offers . “ We don ’ t often get a phone
since 2006 , has played exactly that
call from someone saying , ‘ I have 100
role in our land protection successes .
acres I want to give you to conserve .’
“ Simply put , we could not do our work
Instead it can take months — but more
without the Foundation ,” said Jack .
usually years — to seek out relation-
“ Unlike most land protection funders ,
ships , broker conversations , and
Pyle Farm , Warwick Township , Chester County
they extend to us the flexibility we
build prospective deals on those very
need to fill gaps , close deals , and
valuable remaining open parcels . Time