 Wood-Land-Lakes'
first conservation easement was recorded in August 2000. This donation of
development and subdivision rights, located east of Goshen, will permanently
protect the 36-acre farm. Keeping that land open, in cropland, with wetlands
undisturbed and no commercial activity is the dream come true for the
90-year-old landowner and her brother. Their father
almost lost the farm during the depression. This is her way of protecting
the nearly 100 year old farm. If you would like more information on how to
protect your farm, contact us.
 A
Whitley county couple donated 20.7 acres of development rights on their farm
near Collins. An 8-acre wetland has been restored through the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. The adjoining land has been planted warm season
grasses, trees and shrubs with 3 acres of established woods to increase
diversity. The farm will be for game bird release and wildlife. This is our first conservation easement in Whitley County.
A conservation easement was donated on a 20-acre woods in Elkhart County.
The woodlands contain large, old growth hardwood trees consisting of walnut,
red oak, maple and cherry. The woods provide nesting areas to tanager,
phoebe, hummingbirds, and acadian flycatchers. Their prime forestland and
pond/wetlands will forever provide habitat for wildlife and waterfowl. The
land is very scenic with hilly terrain.
A 248-acre farm located in Vigo County, Indiana has been protected from
future development. The landowner converted tillable ground from row crops
to wildlife habitat. Trees were planted and ponds built to maintain
sustainable wildlife habitat and production, including food plots, livestock
grazing and pasture areas, farming and timber production. The conservation
easement was transferred to Sycamore Trails (ST) RC&D after their Land
Committee organized as a "qualified conservation organization." This
qualifies ST to hold conservation easements.
 In
2002, a Whitley county landowner donated development rights on 22.59 acres
to protect the property from future development. The landowner took
advantage of 3 active springs on the protected property to restore a 9 acre
wetland. Pileated
woodpeckers and salamanders are several of the unique species on the farm.
The forest and wetlands will provide life sustaining habitat for wildlife
and waterfowl.
 Our primary goal in promoting and holding conservation easements is to
conserve productive tillable, farmland. In 2003, we completed a
conservation easement on more than 140
acres of land that includes about 95% productive tillable, irrigated
farmland. The easement was donated to us by a landowner who wanted to protect the
family farm from sprawl and non-agricultural uses. This is our first
farm to be protected in LaGrange County and the largest acreage of
productive cropland with a Conservation Easement held by us.
 A
Steuben county couple donated their development rights on their 115.56 acre farm near Hudson. The landowners want to farm their land
and clear small brush to increase tillable acres. The farm has always been
devoted to crops, pasture and family recreation. Wildlife is prolific
because of the limited access; hunters come for the peace and quiet as much
as the hunting. The landowners are committed to keeping the land in
agricultural use, not houses. This farm has been in the landowner's family
for over 75 years and they want to help preserve a small part of their
heritage for future generations.
In 2004, two
conservation easements were donated to Wood-Land-Lakes on about 320 acres of land.
Both farms include 85-95% productive, working farmland. These farms are
located in areas of moderate to high development pressure. The
landowners want to prevent
their family farms from being sold for commercial, industrial or residential
development, and will continue farming operations and timber woodland
management. The landowners feel strongly about the protection of
Indiana's farmland as a valuable resource. |
