Putuxent Tidewater Land Trust

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Bibliography: Land Trusts and Land Protection

If you are interested in learning more about how land trusts and conservation easements work, how to preserve your land, and other related topics, please consult the publications of the American Farmland Trust, Trust for Public Land, Land Trust Alliance, and other national organizations interested in these issues. A representative sample of publications PTLT has found useful is provided as a starting point for interested visitors. Please request these books through your local library (request them through inter-library loan if your library does not have copies), or purchase the book directly from the publisher or sponsoring organization. As additional resources come to our attention, they will be listed here. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

American Farmland Trust, Saving American Farmland: What Works (Washington, DC: American Farmland Trust, 1997) (800-370-4879) (http://www.farmland.org/merch/publist.htm).
AFT's latest research on farmland protection. Specifically designed for policy makers, planners, community organizations, and concerned citizens that are working to save farmland at the local level.
Arthur Anderson & Company, Tax Economics of Charitable Giving (Chicago, IL: Arthur Anderson, 13th edition) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkhelp.html).
Clear and complete explanations of federal tax law about charitable giving, including information about planned giving techniques, what constitutes a charitable gift, bargain sales, and more.
Barton, Katherine, and Judith Hijikata, editors, The Standards and Practices Guidebook: An Operating Manual for Land Trusts (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance, 1993, 1997, 2d edition) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkfund.html).
This is the Bible for land trusts, and the standard by which they are judged. It provides the information essential for the responsible operation of a land trust – a land trust that operates legally, ethically, and in the public interest, and that conducts a sound program of land transactions and stewardship.
Chesapeake Farms for the Future Board, Farms for the Future: A Strategic Approach to Saving Maryland's Farmland and Rural Resources (Northampton, MA: American Farmland Trust, 1998) (800-370-4879) (http://www.farmland.org/merch/publist.htm).
A comprehensive farmland protection plan for Maryland. This report identifies Maryland's most strategic farmland, outlines a model farmland protection program, and offers an assessment of how well existing state and local programs are protecting the strategic farmland identified on the maps.
Cosgrove, Jerry, and Julia Freedgood, Your Land Is Your Legacy: A Guide to Planning for the Future of Your Farm (Washington, DC: American Farmland Trust) (800-370-4879) (http://www.farmland.org/merch/publist.htm).
Knowing about conservation options is a central issue in estate planning. Cosgrove, at-the-time New York field representative for American Farmland Trust, and Freedgood, the Trust's Director of Farmland Protection Services, bring substantial experience to the task of writing about this increasingly urgent aspect of land protection.
Covert, John, Keeping the Family in the Family Ranch: Traditional Values, New Perspectives (Arvada, CO: Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust) (303-399-4456).
The Colorado Cattlemen's Association, in 1995, was the first mainstream agricultural organization to establish its own land trust. The purpose was to have an entity that large agricultural producers could work with, without being annoyed by the environmental protections urged by most land trusts. A lot of information is packed into this 36 page booklet, which features eight case studies on how individual ranchers in Colorado and Montana have used conservation easements for estate planning, and other tools to protect their land and communities. The studies offer a remarkably candid look into the tough-as-nails land ethic that puts developers into the same category as government when it comes to messing with local land use stability. User friendly, this publication lists contacts and has both color and black and white photos.
Daniels, Tom, and Deborah Bowers, Holding Our Ground: Protecting America's Farms and Farmland (Washington, DC: Island Press, 1997) (800-828-1302) (HD256.D36 1997) (http://www.islandpress.org).
By the former director of one of the most successful local farmland preservation programs in the country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (and now in academia), and by the editor and publisher of the Farmland Preservation Report. This book provides a full discussion of purchased development rights (PDRs), transferable development rights (TDRs), urban growth boundaries, agricultural zoning, preservation strategies, land trusts, estate planning, and why farmland preservation has become important and why localities need to act to prevent fiscal drift. This book provides both a "how-to" manual for the new activist and a reference for the well-versed.
Deans, Karen, editor, Conservation Options: A Landowner's Guide (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance, 1993, 1996) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkowner.html).
This book draws on previously published conservation guides to provide straightforward information on how you can protect your land and the tax benefits that can result – whether you are trying to pass your land along to your children or donate it for the use of all.
Diamond, Henry L., and Patrick F. Noonan, Land Use in America (Covelo, CA: Island Press) (800-828-1302) (http://www.islandpress.org).
According to Island Press, this book by two heavy hitters in the land use arena, "is intended to help communities throughout the country accommodate growth in better, more environmentally sound, more fiscally responsible ways." The authors review land use over the past 25 years and "take a hard, even-handed look at why so little real progress has been made during a period of extraordinary gains in other environmental areas." The book also contains contributions from Douglas Wheeler, William K. Reilly, Christopher Leinberger, Jean Hocker, and others on such topics as ecosystem management, science and the sustainable use of land and the private property rights issue.
Environmental Enhancement through Agriculture (Center for Agriculture, Food and Environment, School of Nutrition Science, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155).
This is a collection of 36 papers delivered at a conference held in Boston in November, 1996, describing how sustainable agriculture can improve wildlife habitat, keep waterways clean, etc. Papers describe examples from farm projects.
Etgen, Rob, Land Trust Assistance Manual (Annapolis, MD: Maryland Environmental Trust in Cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, January 1990).
Farmland Preservation Report (900 LaGrange Road, Street, Maryland 21154) (410-692-2708) (e-mail: BowersPub@aol.com).
A national newsletter for professionals in land use, conservation, and agriculture, published since 1990. The Report includes an annual "Annotated Bibliography" of the articles published during the previous year.
Gustanski, Julie Anne, and Roderick H. Squires, editors, Protecting the Land: Conservation Easements Past, Present, and Future. (Washington, DC, and Covelo, CA: Island Press, 1999) (800-828-1302) (http://www.islandpress.org).
Infante, Rosemary, editor, and Ted Jackson, compiler, Economic Benefits of Land Protection (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance, April 1994) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/books.html).
This collection describes the economic benefits that land conservation provides for a community and illustrates the costs of additional development.
Ingerson, Alice E., editor, Managing Land as an Ecosystem and Economy (Lincoln Institute of Land Policy) (800-526-3873).
This is a carefully edited and well-presented compilation of the ideas and discussions that took place at a fall 1993 Lincoln Institute workshop when controversies created by the property rights movement were heating up. It covers protection of endangered species and natural resources, financing conservation, determining priorities, public participation and larger policy issues. Full bibliography.
Land Trust Alliance, Appraising Easement: Guidelines for Valuation of Historic Preservation and Land Conservation Easements (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance, 1999) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkcetax.html).
Digest of selected revenue procedures, revenue rulings and cases relevant to easement violations, sample documents and a step-by-step analysis of the procedure.
Land Trust Alliance, The Conservation Handbook: Managing Land Conservation and Historic Easement Preservation Easement Programs (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkfund.html).
This volume includes information on IRS criteria for tax-deductible gifts, negotiation and acquisition, baseline data, monitoring and enforcement, back-up grantees, and model conservation and historic easements.
Land Trust Alliance, Starting a Land Trust (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkhelp.html).
A practical handbook that goes beyond the basics to provide valuable information on how to sustain an organization. Book includes sample documents, a sample budget, and loads of information and straightforward advice about fundraising, grants, government assistance, and IRS forms.
Lind, Brenda, The Conservation Easement Stewardship Guide: Designing, Monitoring and Enforcing Easements (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkfund.html).
Learn about baseline documentation, stewardship funds, easement enforcement, monitoring, back-ups, condemnation, amendments, and more. Sample baseline documentation form and checklist, basic rules for record keeping, and sample monitoring form are included.
Mantell, Michael, Stephen Harper, and Luther Propst, Creating Successful Communities: A Guidebook to Growth Management Strategies (Covelo, CA: Island Press) (800-828-1302) (http://www.islandpress.org).
This comprehensive and easy-to-read guide published through the Conservation Foundation is the perfect book to recommend to active citizens and groups. It outlines a multitude of techniques that can be spearheaded by citizen groups whose objectives are to protect community character and integrity. It profiles local programs to illustrate how techniques can be administered.
Myers, Phyllis, Lessons from the States: Strengthening Land Conservation Programs through Grants to Nonprofit Land Trusts (Washington, DC: Land Trust Alliance) (202-785-1410) (http://www.lta.org/books.html).
This study, the first of its kind according to the LTA, reports that $99.7 million has been awarded in state grants to nonprofit land trusts to further common conservation objectives. The study found that ten states provide direct grants to land trusts. The book provides case studies and analysis of programs.
Ndubisi, Forster, Planning Implementation Tools and Techniques – A Resource Book for Local Governments (Athens, GA: University of Georgia, 1992) (706-542-3350).
This book explains traditional regulatory tools, including zoning, purchase of development rights, subdivision regulations, official mapping, fiscal tools, etc., and discusses how each relates to others in a comprehensive plan. Definitions, sample ordinances and resource listings round out the book's focus on basic overview and practical advice for local officials and citizen planners.
Small, Stephen J., The Federal Tax Law of Conservation Easements, Updated with Supplement (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkcetax.html).
The authoritative volume interpreting IRS final regulations on gifts of conservation easements. Also discusses historic preservation easements, donations of remainder interests for conservation purposes and reservation of qualified mineral interests.
Small, Stephen J., Preserving Family Lands: Essential Tax Strategies for Landowners (Boston, MA: Landowner Planning Center, 1992, 2d edition) and Preserving Family Lands, Book II: More Planning Strategies for the Future (Boston, MA: Landowner Planning Center) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkowner.html).
Written by a tax attorney specializing in working with landowners to protect family land around the county, this book sets out the tax issues faced by landowners.
Stone, Roger D., Fair Tide: Sailing toward Long Island's Future (Great Falls, VA: Waterline Books, 1996).
A personal essay on land-use on Long Island, New York, encouraging more rational policies that will preserve its environmental quality by the director and president of Sustainable Development Institute in Washington, DC.
The Trust for Public Land, Doing Deals: A Guide to Buying Land for Conservation (Washington, DC, and San Francisco, CA: The Trust for Public Land and the Land Trust Alliance, 1995) (202-638-4725) (http://www.lta.org/bkfund.html).
This book helps conservation buyers minimize the risk and maximize the effectiveness of protection efforts. It introduces basic real estate, financial, and strategic principles that will enable one to operate competently and comfortably in the world of conservation real estate.

Please let PTLT know of any important organizations and/or links that should be listed on this page, including contact information. Thanks!

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