Standard 12: Land Stewardship
The land trust has a program of responsible stewardship for the land it holds other than through a conservation agreement for conservation purposes.
Background
Many land trusts hold land other than through conservation agreement for a variety of conservation purposes, and must take care of these properties. Failure to manage and monitor the property could lead to loss of or damage to the property’s conservation values, injury to visitors, or even loss of the property itself. A land trust that does not care for its holdings will lose credibility. A land trust should also make contingency provisions for its land in the event it can no longer fulfill its stewardship obligations.
Relevant Law
- Canada Revenue Agency policy interpretation of Income Tax Act, SC 1985, c. I; see
- Income Tax Act, SC 1985, c. I, s. 149.1 (6.3);
see also Canada Revenue Agency policy interpretations at
- Expropriation Act, RSBC 1996, c. 125.
- Expropriation Act, SC 1996, c. E-21.
- Taxation (Rural Area) Act, RSBC 1996, c. 447.
- School Act, RSBC 1996, c. 412.
- Police Act, RSBC 1996, c. 367.
- Property Transfer Tax Act, RSBC 1996, c. 378.
- Social Service Tax Act, RSBC 1996, c. 431.
PRACTICE
F. Community Outreach
The land trust keeps neighbours and community leaders informed about its ownership and management of conservation properties.
Background
Good public relations, especially with adjacent landowners and community leaders who have a special interest in the property, can aid immeasurably in a land trust’s stewardship program and benefit the land trust in many other ways. Offering tours of conservation lands, maintaining trail networks or having field days can help encourage community support for the land trust’s work. Community support for land trust properties can help build strong local relationships and help prevent damage to the land.
Assessment Questions
CLTA Assessment Questions
- Does the land trust have an active program of involving the community in the stewardship of its properties?
- The land trust notifies neighbours of its properties and appropriate public officials about (check all that apply):
- Ownership of its properties
- Significant management activities to be conducted on its properties
