Montrose - Daily Press

GUNNISON —  Nearly 4,000 new conservation acres in and around Montrose County were obtained in 2007 thanks to the efforts of private landowners and a local land trust group.

The local gains contributed to the claiming of thousands of Colorado’s acres for conservation, officials said.

The Black Canyon Land Trust worked with 28 landowners to conserve close to 4,000 acres in Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray and San Miguel counties last year, said Barbara Hawke, trust executive director. All of these conservation projects were made possible by the voluntary donation of conservation easements by private landowners, she added.

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“The permanent commitment made by these landowners conserved working farms and ranches, aspen woodlands, viewsheds along scenic byways, and much more,” said Hawke. “Black Canyon Land Trust is extremely gratified that landowners in the area have chosen to preserve from development over 35,000 acres in the last 15 years with BCLT – a valuable contribution that benefits our region and the state.”

The past year has been particularly successful for purchases and donations to protect Colorado’s public lands, said Jill Ozarski, executive director of the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, which represents 55 organizations statewide. These groups aim primarily to purchase land to protect it from development.

Though an official number is not yet available, Ozarski said an estimated 100,000 acres of conservation easements were acquired this year.

“It’s a combination of factors (that contributed to more conservation easements),” said Ozarski. “One really important (part) is tax incentives. They encourage people to donate at the state and federal levels. Conservation easements (are also) becoming more and more accepted.”

Conservation easements are sold or donated by private landowners to nonprofit or government agencies to guarantee that a parcel of land will never be developed, Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts stated. Property owners may continue using their land as it has been but give up the rights to sell the land to developers in the future or to develop it themselves.

“We’ve seen conservation easements finalized across the state just in the last few weeks that will conserve farms and ranchland, scenic areas, wildlife habitat, migration routes and unique spaces that otherwise would be lost to development,” Ozarski said.

Most of these land transactions were initiated by landowners who contacted their local trust office, she said.

“(Conservation easements) are such great tools. (They) allow ranchers to stay on the land and gives them the financial incentive to do it ... (conservation easements) are for folks who really want to stay on the land to maintain operation and contribute to the local economy or pass the land on to their children.”

In addition to those around Montrose County, conservation easements added in 2007 include lands in San Miguel, Rio Grande, Chaffee, Saguache and Eagle counties.

Conservation easements were finalized on two properties in San Miguel County in December. The 640-acre Hughes easement and the 400-acre Bray easement are parts of larger ranch holdings that are adjacent to or near large protected areas.

Together these two easements protect traditional agricultural landscapes and they conserve native biodiversity, migratory links for the imperiled Gunnison sage-grouse and habitat for the rare Canadian lynx, according to Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts.

Commented Ozarski, “When I see these kinds of stories it makes me proud to be here in Colorado. They demonstrate that the public really values open space.”

Contact Lisa Huynh via email at lisah@montrosepress.com

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