Southeast Alaska Land Trust



	Our Mission: The Southeast Alaska Land Trust cooperates with communities and land owners to ensure vital natural areas remain in place for each generation.

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Melissa Goldstein - Conservation Specialist

Melissa joined us as our Conservation Specialist in September 2007. Originally from upstate New York, she has made a circuit around the country (via South Carolina, Texas, northern California, southcentral Alaska) to arrive here in Southeast. She has been a Juneau resident for nearly four years. Melissa has a background in environmental toxicology and wildlife biology, and enjoys many outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, and bird watching. She is an active member of the Juneau community and has three children under the age of six who help keep her that way.

Strawberry Acres, Lot #4

In the spring of 2006, Dave and Mary Albert came to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust with a conservation project proposal for the upper Strawberry Creek valley. They envisioned their 3.62-acre property known as Strawberry Acres (Lot #4), becoming part of the Amalga Meadows Natural Area Park. With such a clear vision in mind, the Trust was able to work successfully with the Alberts and the CBJ, and the Strawberry Acres conservation easement, located at mile 25 in Juneau’s “Green Zone,” was completed and signed in December of 2006. The property is now a part of the Park, and forms a continuum with the adjacent Herbert River conservation easement, also held by SEAL Trust.

Moraine Edge

During the construction of the Moraine Edge Subdivision in 2005, CEO and President of Lowpete Construction, Inc. Richard Petersen sent a letter of intent to SEAL Trust indicating his firm’s desire to donate certain portions of the surrounding land for conservation purposes, that these portions become the property of Juneau’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and that they be part of “the preserved lands dedicated for conservation and for public outdoor recreation or education purposes.” The resulting conservation easement on Moraine Edge Parcels A&B, a total of 7.12 acres, serves as a public “green space” in the midst of residential development.

Congressional Conference Committee to resolve differences in Tax Benefits for Conservation Donations

Are you a Southeast Alaskan landowner thinking about placing conservation protections on property that you cherish? Your vision, as landowner, and the conservation values of the property are the key ingredients for a conservation easement that is unique to your property. The federal income tax deduction that comes with that conservation donation helps to make the easements financially viable.

Deduct up to 50% of their adjusted gross income in any year (up from 30%);
Deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income if the majority of that income came from farming, ranching or forestry; and
Continue to take deductions for as long as 15 years (up from 5 years) after the initial deduction.

In 2006, after lengthy debates about the public benefits of private land conservation efforts, Congress made favorable changes to the tax incentives for conservation donations. They passed a new law that will enhance the tax benefits of donating conservation easements on private land during 2006 and 2007. The legislation improves the tax incentive for conservation easements by allowing conservation easement donors to increase the deduction for the donation, and increase the numbers of years for which that deduction can be claimed. Landowners can now deduct up to 50%, and in certain cases 100% of their adjusted gross income, and continue taking that deduction for up to 16 years, depending on the appraised value of their donation.

The timing is important. The house and senate proposed making these changes permanent, but needs to resolve language differences in their proposals. Final Legislation will be retroactive to Jan, 1 2008.

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust is a member of The Land Trust Alliance (LTA). This organization led the effort to work in Congress to approve this new law. LTA is a national organization that sets standards for all the land trust in the country, provides training and networking opportunities, and represents the land trust community in Washington, DC. SEALTrust has been a member of LTA for 10 years.

Whether you need help preserving land that you cherish beyond your lifetime, desire to realize tax-benefits through charitable giving, or simply wish to make a contribution to support our work, we can help you achieve your specific plans while protecting important natural and cultural lands.

Each day we are encouraged by the generous and willing landowners who work with us. The new law will make it easier for others in Southeast Alaska to insure that vital natural areas they care about will remain in place for their grandchildren to enjoy.

To learn more about these new developments, visit www.southeastalaskalandtrust.org or www.LTA.org.

Mail: Southeast Alaska Land Trust, 119 Seward Street, Suite 15, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
Office Location: Downtown Juneau on the 2nd Floor of the Valentine Building at 119 Seward Street in Suite 15.
Email: setrust@ptialaska.net — Phone: (907) 586-3100 — Fax: (907) 586-3125