Significant Land Conservation Measure Signed into Law

The end of 2022 brought yet another important win for conservation with the year-end omnibus appropriations package that will stop abuses of the federal conservation easement tax incentive program.

Since 2015, the federal conservation easement tax incentive program has helped Americans voluntarily conserve millions of acres throughout the country, including farms, open lands, and wildlife habitats. However, bad actors have taken advantage of this program, threatening its integrity and costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

The new measures weed out scam artists and prohibit a charitable deduction if it exceeds 2.5 times — or 250 percent — of the original investment.

Our partners at The Land Trust Alliance (LTA) have been critical to promoting passage of this legislation. The Moore Charitable Foundation has worked for years with the LTA to increase the pace, quality, and permanence of land conservation through persuasive advocacy and real policy change, including working to stop abusive syndicated conservation easement transactions.

This partnership has helped the LTA, which boasts 950 land trust members, educate policymakers around supporting tax measures and conservation funding that have significantly advanced land protection. We look forward to our continued work with the LTA to conserve America’s open lands.