Tom Andersen is the director of communications and special projects at the Westchester Land Trust. The countywide organization based in Bedford Hills works with private property owners and communities to protect open land and create new parks. It preserved more than 400 acres in 2009.
Q: A lot of what the Westchester Land Trust does is easements as opposed to outright purchases. Explain the difference.
A: A conservation easement is essentially a contract between a private landowner, who agrees to give up most or all of his right to develop his property, and us. Our part of the bargain is we agree to document the environmental values that are being protected. In exchange for that, the IRS offers the landowner fairly generous income tax deductions.
Q: What were some of your big accomplishments last year?
via Westchester Land Trust protects open space in tough times | LoHud.com | The Journal News.
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