News & Events

The permanent conservation of private land through voluntary agreements known as conservation easements or agricultural land easements has grown tremendously in the last 30 years. We will look at easements’ conservation goals, flexibility to meet goals, and touch on economic and property tax aspects of easements. We will focus on agricultural land easements which are designed to assure the conservation of working farms and ranches. Specific examples will describe how and where Nebraska Land Trust has employed these agreements to permanently conserve agricultural, historical, and natural resources in some of Nebraska’s most treasured landscapes. Brief video clips of farm and ranch owners will let them explain why their easements matter and show some of the beautiful and valuable landscapes preserved. Finally, we will touch on potential threats to the continued use of this valuable tool in Nebraska.

The governor has approved the the Nebraska Environmental Trust board’s version of Title 137 of the State Code regarding the operation of the Trust without considering or making any changes suggested by the Friends of the Trust, once again ignoring our sincere efforts to improve the work of the Trust and align it with its stated mission. (See attached letter) Problematic is the governor’s interference in the work of the Trust board by using terms like “my hope” and “I would expect “ to remove objectivity from the board’s consideration of grant applications. We are not sure what he means by “public benefit” or “landscape enhancement,” terms he used in his letter to the Trust board chairman and executive director. To us it seems his political interference in the board’s consideration of grant applications is dangerous and inappropriate.

Letter to Appropriations Committee February 9, 2023 - McCollister

Testimony to Appropriations Committee - Bender

Letter to Appropriations Committee - Wachiska Audubon

LB814 is up for an Appropriations Committee hearing on Monday, February 13, 2023