On-line Presentations

Forest Stewardship Online Workshop:Plan for the Future of Your Land

Many landowners are torn between not wanting to see their land developed and wanting to provide an inheritance for children or other heirs. However, it does not have to be an “either/or” situation. With creative planning and some compromise, families can allow for some measure of both. This workshop addresses some of these issues and presents effective land conservation and estate planning tools to help families find a solution – so that they can protect their land and leave a legacy for the next generation.

Dr. Michael Gutter’s presentation discusses the importance of wills and proper estate planning. Busy Shires Byerly focused on the income, estate and property tax benefits of conservation easements. She also presented information about programs that purchase conservation easements.

The Polycom was recorded and broadcast live via Polycom on December 14, 2011 from the University of Florida Campus to Extension facilities in Alachua, Baker, Clay, Gadsden, Highlands, Holmes, Jackson, Lake, Madison, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Osceola, Polk, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

Michael Gutter, Chris Demers - Plan for the Future of Your Land - Part 1
Busy Kislig-Shires Byerly, Chris Demers - Plan for the Future of Your Land - Part 2

Property Tax Benefits of Conservation Easements
George Wheeler - Conservation Exemptions, Agricultural Classification for Property Tax

Publications

Articles

Letter to the Editor: Land Trusts Conserve for the Equestrian Lifestyle

In the October Issue of Dressage Today, Kristianna Lindgren, CTF's Land Conservation Assistant Director, stressed the importance of loss of land for horses and horse-related activities in a letter to the editor. Her letter reviewed the value of conservation easements, and the end of 2011 deadline for receiving tax benefits.

She notes, "There are monetary benefits to donating a conservation easement on one’s land, in particular, there are significant federal income tax benefits in place as well, and there may be state property and income tax benefits depending on the state."

Read the whole letter to learn more...

A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Itself

By JUSTIN GILLIS Published: June 4, 2011

CIUDAD OBREGÓN, Mexico — The dun wheat field spreading out at Ravi P. Singh’s feet offered a possible clue to human destiny. Baked by a desert sun and deliberately starved of water, the plants were parched and nearly dead.

Dr. Singh, a wheat breeder, grabbed seed heads that should have been plump with the staff of life. His practiced fingers found empty husks.

“You’re not going to feed the people with that,” he said.

But then, over in Plot 88, his eyes settled on a healthier plant, one that had managed to thrive in spite of the drought, producing plump kernels of wheat. “This is beautiful!” he shouted as wheat beards rustled in the wind. { read more... }

Florida's Black Bears

CTF Advisory Board Member Carlton Ward, Jr.’s photographs of black bears were featured in the May-June 2011 edition of the national Audubon Magazine.

Books...

Cracker, The Last Cowboys of Florida

Ellen Huntley Dube, our Land Conservation Outreach and Education Director was featured in "Cracker, The Last Cowboys of Florida," a documentary by Victor Milt.

When CTF was approached to expand the multi-award winning movie, "Cowboys of Florida" to feature length - well, we jumped at the chance. Because there was so much more to say - so many stories to tell - and most of all, to try and save the ranches of Florida, themselves.

Little did we know that this movie would become the standard bearer for saving not only the Florida prairie, but wilderness and farmland around the world.

"Cracker" not only explores every aspect of cowboy life - from prairie to rodeo to small town existence - it also confronts the crisis of the "urbanization" of the prairie and attendant loss of wilderness areas. But it not only presents the problems - it offers solutions - ones that have worked.

If you care about ranching or the last remaining wilderness in southeastern USA, you must own this movie.

For more information on the movie click here: http://victormilt.com/store/page2.html