Agricultural Conservation Workshop Series: Conservation Easements

Farmland loss has been significant in South Puget Sound and SW Washington. One hundred thousand acres (65%) were lost in Thurston County, and 130,000 acres (44%) in Lewis County, since the 1950s. Residential development, which is largely responsible, also threatens rare open-space habitat, such as dry prairies which have been reduced 1-3 percent of their historic range.

This Rural Conservation and Farmland Protection workshop will provide information in farmer-to-farmer format for protecting rural land, such as Conservation Easements and Cost-Share programs. This first December workshop, which will be followed by another in January, will focus primarily on Conservation Easement essentials.

Workshop presenters include four farmer panelists,  Jeff Swotek formerly with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and staff with Thurston County Community Planning, WSU Extension, Thurston Conservation District, the Ecostudies Institute, US Fish and Wildlife Partners Program. We may have a special guest from the nationally active “Partners for Conservation” program (https://partnerscapes.org/news/) which works with landowners on working lands conservation efforts.

For further information please contact Sierra Smith: sierra.smith1@wsu.edu.

Topics covered include:

• Results from a 2019 Conservation on Working Lands Survey in Thurston, Pierce, Mason, Lewis, Grays Habor and Pacific Counties
• Conservation easements essentials – key topics for rural landowners to consider
• Panel discussion with farmers who have easements on their property
• Does your property have the right ingredients to be a likely easement candidate?

Join the Meeting:

https://wsu.zoom.us/j/93312245311?pwd=cENTNDlKY2NmbHU0cy8rTXhHNUgydz09

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/93312245311?pwd=cENTNDlKY2NmbHU0cy8rTXhHNUgydz09

Meeting ID: 933 1224 5311

Passcode: 407003

Phone Call (long distance)
+1 253 215 8782
+12532158782,,93312245311# US (One Tap Mobile Call)