UDI is a Founding Member of theLand Trust – Let’s Talk about

Conservationfor the

Urban Development Institute –

Greater Edmonton Chapter

Pamela Wight, Executive Director

pamwight@ealt.caNovember 20, 2008November 20, 2008

Who is the LandTrust?

Founding Partners:• Edmonton Community Foundation

• City of Edmonton• City of Edmonton

• Land Stewardship Centre of Canada

• Legacy Lands Conservation Society

• Edmonton Nature Club

• Urban Development Institute - GreaterEdmonton Chapter

What was theMandate?

To create an independent,charitable not-for-profit,supported by the community, tosupported by the community, tolead in selecting, securing, andstewarding natural area systemsand cultural heritage landscapesin the Edmonton area

Local EnvironmentalCharity

• EALT is currently the onlycharitable environmentalorganisation oriented to the entireorganisation oriented to the entireEdmonton & Region, to focus onconserving natural areas inperpetuity

• EALT takes a stronglycollaborative approach

What’s the Vision?

• An Edmonton region where naturalarea systems are valued, preservedfor future generations and play a keyrole in the social, economic, androle in the social, economic, andenvironmental life of the residents ofthe area

Purpose & Goals

• Conserve, protect, & restore naturalareas of ecological significance

– Raise & maintain funds to supportoperations, purchase & educationaloutreachoperations, purchase & educationaloutreach

– Advance environmentally soundstewardship among landowners

– Increase public’s understanding ofnatural area conservation

– Encourage & conduct research tosupport land conservation decisions

Why? What’s theIssue?

• Between 2001 & 2006, Edmontonadded ~100,000 residents

• Dwellings increased >28% in lastdecadedecade

• Rapid industrial, commercial & otherdevelopment has increased pressure inthe entire region’s natural & agriculturalareas

• Pressures on infrastructure (& people& wildlife) have increased dramatically

Edmonton’sHistorical Growth

(1902-2004)

Future GrowthScenarios

(2004-2030)

Benefits of EALT’sActivities?

• Environmental: clean water & air, habitat,biological diversity

• Economic: increased property values(proximity principle), therefore increasedmunicipal taxes, sustainable land use, naturalmunicipal taxes, sustainable land use, naturalcapital values (natural resources)

• Cultural/Scenic: recreational spaces, beauty,agricultural values & quality of life

• Urban: preserving urban forests conservesenergy, reduces runoff & stormwatertreatment needs, improves water quality, &provides habitat

Why is this workImportant?

• It’s the many natural, cultural & rural landscapesthat make our region unique

• Healthy natural systems perform vital ecologicalfunctions & services

• The case for nature conservation is more than• The case for nature conservation is more thanenvironmental, recreational or aesthetic, it isincreasingly economic

• Research show it is often more cost-effective toconserve existing natural systems than to attemptto rebuild them

Mechanisms EALThas to Conserve

• Donations of land– for preservation or restoration

– investment for potential sale for more suitable lands

• Purchase of land

• Conservation Easements (on all or part of land)• Conservation Easements (on all or part of land)

• Establish & implement appropriate stewardshippractices for all lands held

• Donations of money (or securities) – endowmentfunds have been established at the EdmontonCommunity Foundation

• Partnerships

• Education & Awareness

Ecological GiftsProgram

• Acquisition & regulationinsufficient to achieveconservation goals

• Private or corporatelandowners can donate land toa qualified agency & receive taxa qualified agency & receive taxbenefits

• Non-refundable federal taxcredit

• Split-receipts (“bargain-sales”)can also qualify as ecologicalgifts

• Eco-gift skip transfers

• Inventory land does not receivethe same tax treatment

• Guidelines forEco-gifts onEnvironmentCanada website

Important NaturalAreas in the

Edmonton Region

Challenges of anUrban Land Trust

Site Selection:• general perception natural sites & urban areas are mutuallyexclusive

• sufficient size & connectivity is VIP

• significant controversy is common

Site Securement:Site Securement:•high land market values, so challenge to raise funds

•criteria of Ecological Gifts program sometimes not applicable tourban natural area situations

•expropriation possibilities

Site Stewardship:•long-term maintenance, paying taxes & liability insurance,preventative maintenance, etc, higher levels of abuse ormisuse, so high resources and time required

Outreach:•difficulty engaging media interest to reach donors/volunteers

Other Challenges

• Land values are very dynamic

• Tremendous pressures on lands inurban & adjacent areas

• We rely strongly on volunteers in all• We rely strongly on volunteers in allareas of our work & outreach

• Eco-gift program very useful, butinventory lands (lands acquired forresale) are not subject to the same taxadvantages (only a portion of capitalgains eligible)

Actual/PotentialActivities

• The Capital Region Land Use Plan is ongoing

• IAFE charged with incorporating theenvironment into decisions

• No one player has control, over time

• EALT has initiated collaborations:– to map, regionally, the key natural areas of

importance

– to examine future scenarios related to currentdecisions as a decision-making tool

– to acquire & steward lands

• EALT could be a pragmatic tool in the toolbox(CEs, landholder, ecogift, negotiation device)

Benefits w. EALT

for Landowners & Developers:

• a non-adversarial partner toproactively conserve natural areasystems ahead of the developmentsystems ahead of the developmentprocess

• voluntary landowner conservationinitiatives through purchase or giftingof land or Conservation Easements

• charity, can provide tax benefits todonors

Benefits w. EALT

for Individuals, Corporations or Clients:

• An opportunity to support conservationconvictions through land/money donations

• Charitable receipts for donations• Charitable receipts for donations

• For ecologically important lands (Eco-gift),5-year offset of capital gains taxes

• Provincial Community Spirit Program

–Individuals: - receive 50¢ tax credit

–Charity: - receives an additional CommunitySpirit grant based on donations received fromindividuals

EALT has United asa partner

• COE Community Partnership Project (ICLEI)

• Interpretation of: Big Lake StormwaterManagement Bioswales & Wetland

• Interpretive signage & Interpretive literature

• Long-lasting influence, plus enhanced image• Long-lasting influence, plus enhanced image

How can EALTpartner with YOU or

your CLIENTS?• We have core values of conservation

– We are v. much focussed on collaborations

– We can be a cooperative tool for you / your– We can be a cooperative tool for you / yourclients

– We can help leverage your activities

– We don’t have a set approach, & understandthat every parcel / development is unique, &are open to suggestions

• How can we collaborate to meet mutualgoals & needs?

How can UDI & EALTpartner to build

better communities?

• Does your selling landowner everhave preservation objectives?

• Could we provide an option?• Could we provide an option?

• What can we offer you?

• Can you help with outreach / PR /website?

• Can you help with volunteers?

• YOU have some of the answers orsuggestions!

Thank you!Any questions?

Any suggestions?

www.ealt.cawww.ealt.ca