How To Preserve Prairies

There are several options available to landowners who wish to preserve their prairie while keeping their land in private ownership.  NPAT primarily assists landowners who wish to preserve their prairie in two ways: 1) accepting donations of property and 2) holding conservation easements.

A number of landowners have donated their prairies to NPAT to protect them forever.  As a nonprofit charitable organization and land trust, NPAT can accept gifts of property in fee simple.  Lands donated to NPAT are held in perpetuity for the benefit of their prairies, native plants, and wildlife.  Donation of the property is in most cases tax-deductible as it is a charitable contribution.

A conservation easement is an agreement between a landowner and a private organization or land trust such as NPAT.  By donating a conservation easement, a landowner retains title to his or her property, but agrees to limit or prohibit certain kinds of development, subdivision, or other activities on the property.

The purpose of an easement with NPAT is to preserve prairie remnants or restorations on a tract of land, and can include compatible agricultural productivity such as use as a native hay meadow or managed sustainable grazing.  The IRS recognizes donation of a conservation easement as a charitable gift and may result in a federal income tax deduction, reduced property taxes, and reduced estate taxes paid by heirs.

To speak with someone at NPAT about potential donation of land or a conservation easement, contact the Native Prairies Association of Texas, 2002 - A Guadalupe St. PMB 290, Austin, TX 78705-5609 , 512-772-4741 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).