Land trust have been able to increase their holds during the last five years. Lower land prices and conservation easements on working ranches and farms have enabled greater conservation efforts.
High Country News looks at the trend of land trusts increasing their holdings over the past five years, despite the recession.
According to HCN "...private nonprofit land trusts protected 20 times as much undeveloped land -- 10 million acres nationwide, according to data in a new census of 1,700 land trusts in the national Land Trust Alliance."
"Whether the blazing growth of private conservation in the West will continue unabated is unclear, though. The recession may yet have lagging effects." Tax incentives are set to expire at the end of 2011, unless Congress renews them, which may impact future conservation.
Thanks to Cathie Pagano
FULL STORY: Land trusts thrive despite, and because of, the Great Recession

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