PRESS RELEASE

722 First St., SW, Suite L

Roanoke, VA 24016-4120

Phone/fax (540) 985-0000

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Roger Holnback, Executive Director

Land Trust Releases Your Land, Your Choices DVD for western Virginia landowners

ROANOKE—The Western Virginia Land Trust has released a new original video production for area landowners, Your Land, Your Choies: How Conservation Easements Can Work for You. The half-hour long video tells the inspirational tales of several western Virginia familes who have placed conservation easements on their land, and also shares important information for landowners who want to protect their land from development and pass it on intact to their heirs.

Your Land, Your Choices consists of five chapters. Chapter 1, “Your Goals for Your Land,” looks at local landowners’ motivations for protecting their lands. Chapter 2, “Conservation Easements,” explains the fine print in a typical conservation easement agreement. Chapter 3, “Financial Benefits,” describes the various state and federal tax benefits associated with conservation easements. Chapter 4, “Completing an Easement,” details the steps involved in completing a conservation easement. Chapter 5, “Just the Beginning,” tells landowners what to expect after they’ve recorded a conservation easement.

In addition, Your Land, Your Choices contains an hour of bonus interviews with Virginia conservation easement experts. Stephen W. Lemon, principal with Martin, Hopkins & Lemon, PC, in Roanoke, explains the legal ins and outs of conservation easements. Samuel B. Long, MAI, SRA, with Miller, Long & Associates, Inc., in Roanoke, describes the conservation easement appraisal process. And Rebecca E. McCoy, CPA, from Mathews, VA, talks about the financial and tax aspects related to donating a conservation easement.

Both educational and motivational, Your Land, Your Choices is a must for any area landowner who has been considering a conservation easement, or who would like to learn more about ways to preserve their land in its natural or rural state forever. To request a free copy of Your Land, Your Choices, contact the Western Virginia Land Trust at (540) 985-0000, or send an e-mail to dperry@westernvirginialandtrust.org. You can also view the entire production online at www.westernvirginialandtrust.org.