How We Work

People are drawn to this region by its stunning beauty, abundant wildlife and ready access to recreational opportunities. These special qualities are threatened by the increased development that comes with a growing population. If not implemented thoughtfully, development can impact natural systems and undermine our exceptional quality of life. We realize that growth is necessary and strive to balance it with protection of our natural landscapes to maintain a vibrant community with ample opportunity for economic prosperity while protecting critical areas.

We help landowners protect their special places for future generations.

• Agricultural and Working Forest Lands

• Climate Resistant Lands and Waters

• Community Access for Recreation & Education

• Culturally Significant Lands

• Waterways

• Wildlife Habitat

Our vision is that 100 years from now there will still be a permanent land base to sustain a vibrant, varied economy, large tracts of undeveloped land providing critical habitat, community access to natural areas, and pristine waterways such as Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River. The protection of working ranches, farms and forests plays a key role in achieving this balance. Since 2002, KLT has helped area families to protect nearly 4,000 acres of working farms and forests, scenic views, important wetlands, and habitat for wildlife in Bonner and Boundary counties in Idaho and Sanders County, Montana. We use two primary methods to support this process: conservation easements and land acquisition. 

Understanding Conservation Easements

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and an organization like a land trust that protects land from development in order to maintain important natural qualities. The easement transfers some degree of the development rights to the land trust, after which they are effectively retired. The conservation easement may also limit other uses such as mining, clear-cutting and activities that have a negative impact on the land. A conservation easement allows individuals to maintain private ownership of the land and manage it for various uses such as timber harvest and agriculture while continuing to enjoy it and protecting its important resources.

Landowners are able to sell or gift the land.

Landowners are able to sell or gift the land, but conservation easements are perpetual and must be adhered to by future owners. The landowner and the land trust enter into this agreement voluntarily. Kaniksu Land Trust has no regulatory authority. Kaniksu Land Trust is responsible for upholding the terms of the easement and monitors all easements annually. The land trust also maintains a stewardship fund specifically earmarked for the purpose of caring for the land.

Conservation easements are one of the most powerful and effective tools available for the permanent conservation of private lands. Their use has successfully protected millions of acres of land while keeping it in private hands and generating significant public benefits.

Land Donation and Other Methods of Protection

By far the most common method of land conservation used by KLT is a conservation easement. However, the organization is also qualified to accept outright gifts of land. A gift of land may be the right option for someone who is no longer able to manage his or her land, has no plans for transferring it to another individual, does not wish to sell it, or wishes to ensure that the property remains in its natural condition. In rare instances, KLT may be able to access funding to purchase land. Other land gifting options exist whereby the landowner can live out the rest of his or her life on the property and transfer the land to KLT as part of their estate planning. KLT also accepts gifts of real estate or other property for fundraising purposes, in which case the property is sold and proceeds used to further KLT’s mission.

Tax Incentives

The donation of a conservation easement to the Kaniksu Land Trust may qualify you for a charitable tax deduction. In 2015, Congress made permanent an income tax incentive allowing qualifying conservation easement donors to deduct up to 50% of their income for a carry-forward period of up to 15 years or until the value of the donation has been used. Qualifying farmers and ranchers may deduct even more.

PROTECT YOUR LAND

Our land protection staff will work with you to understand your goals for your property and conduct an assessment of the natural resource values of your land. Each KLT conservation project is unique to the landowners with whom we partner and the land that is being protected. No two are the same. Landowners come to us due to concerns over encroaching development, generational shifts in family ownership, financial considerations, and more, often coupled with a desire to preserve their land-based legacy for the future.