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
B. Stewardship Principles
The land trust establishes general principles to guide the stewardship of its fee-owned properties, including determining what uses are and are not appropriate on its properties, the types of improvements it might make and any land management practices it will follow. Principles should be clearly stated in all management plans and all public relations material.
Background
Many land trusts find it useful to develop general stewardship policies or principles to guide the management and use of their properties. These general policies or philosophic principles may be adapted in individual management plans to address the specific needs for a particular property. Stewardship policies or principles might address such items as public access, use of properties for research and environmental education, habitat manipulation, and standards for improvements. The more consistency in the types of properties a land trust owns, the more specific a set of general policies may be. The stewardship principles can be useful in guiding board decisions on land management and can help explain land management decisions to the public. Principles should be clearly stated in all management plans and all public relations material.
Assessment Questions
CLTA Assessment Questions
- Does the land trust have written stewardship principles to guide its land management?
