Functions Of The Hill Country Land Trust

• Our primary function is to assist a landowner in creating a legal document that preserves his long term wishes and to conduct annual inspections to insure those wishes are honored.

• To offer a range of available options tailored to the specific preservation goals of Hill Country landowners.

• To work with private landowners who voluntarily elect to preserve the natural character of their property through the donation of land conservation easements.

• Dissemination of information on programs and practices that foster responsible land stewardship without sacrificing the economic viability of the land.

• To raise public awareness of preservation issues in the Hill Country.

• The Hill Country Land Trust is a non-profit, non-government 501(c)(3) corporation organized by resident landowners concerned that increasingly intense development pressures throughout the Texas Hill Country area threaten to destroy its very nature.

Conservation Easements

A Conservation Easement is a permanent deed restriction a property owner may choose to place on his or her land, in order to protect such resources as productive agricultural land, water, wildlife habitat, historic sites or scenic views. Over time the property may change hands, but each successive owner will be bound by the terms of the permanent easement.

A Conservation Easement is not a transfer of ownership, nor a grant of free access, or a restriction on any uses specifically reserved by the grantor of the easement.

Texas currently leads the nation in loss of farm and ranch land. Properties in the 500 to 2000 acre range are most susceptible to fragmentation through development. As property size decreases, production declines, contributions to the local economies diminish and families are forced to seek other means of livelihood. The division of land also increases pressure on wildlife, watersheds and water quality.

The decision to break up a ranch or farm can be driven by economics or hardships, but often it is just the lack of planning or of clear communication among the owners. A conservation easement is a legal document that memorializes the owner's desires for the future use of the land and may provide economic relief and tax benefits to current and future owners of the land.

If you are concerned about the future of your own property, the Hill Country Land Trust stands ready to work directly with you to develop a plan which meets your specific needs and goals. There is no general blueprint for land conservation because each landowner must consider the history, traditions and dreams he has for the future of his own property. Together we can make a difference for the future of the Hill Country.