The conservation program of the Island Heritage Trust is directed to one goal: permanent conservation of land that offers public benefit and that preserves the natural and scenic resources of Deer Isle for future generations.

All land owned by IHT (608 acres) is open for public access, although most of our conservation easements are not open to the public.

Please find the updated version of “Conservation Options” A Guide for Maine Land Owners, published by Maine Coast Heritage Trust here.

Conserving Land

In each case, we work by voluntary, cooperative, and confidential relationships with individual landowners to develop the most appropriate conservation method for their property.

Deciding to conserve your land requires careful, thorough consideration of your family’s interests for the future of the property. The heart of the process is really your hope to permanently protect the scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and valuable natural resources of your land.

Donating a Conservation Easement

A conservation easement is a type of deed that keeps land in private ownership but has specific covenants that describe how the land can be used. The easement is donated to Island Heritage Trust, which accepts a perpetual obligation to monitor the property to assure that the conservation protections will be sustained in the future.

Easements are custom-fit to the interests of the landowner and the Trust, with the Trust ensuring the public benefits and conservation values of the property are conserved.

Once land is under easement, the landowners may live on and manage the land, sell it, or pass it on to their heirs. It is still their land. The easement, however, is a legal agreement that remains in effect forever and is enforceable in court. Because the land remains in private ownership, the landowners continue to manage it and decide if the public is allowed on their land. Public benefits that result from conservation easements include protection of all issues in our mission statement from open space and public access to wildlife habitat.

Island Heritage Trust holds conservation easements on 853 acres around Deer Isle.

Donating Land

Our preserves are properties for which the Trust owns full title. Some preserves were donated to us by generous landowners who wished to leave a legacy for future generations by permanently conserving their property while providing the community with a full opportunity to appreciate its natural and scenic values. When a landowner offers to donate land to the Trust, we evaluate it thoroughly to determine that it has substantial conservation value and public benefits. Once land is accepted for conservation as a preserve, we are committed to protecting it perpetually, so we need to assure that the proposed preserve will merit the effort and expense of permanent stewardship obligations.

Purchasing Conservation Land

Because real estate is quite expensive and we must raise funds for land purchases, purchasing land is not our general practice. However, in some instances, the Island Heritage Trust will purchase properties with exceptional conservation values. When we do decide to purchase land, we negotiate on a voluntary basis with the landowner for a “bargain sale” price.

Some landowners can benefit from a “bargain sale” of their property—that is, a sale for substantially below the appraised value. The difference between the appraised value and the purchase price is considered a tax-deductible charitable donation. A bargain sale is a true demonstration of the landowner’s generosity and commitment to conserving their property, while producing important mutual financial benefits for both the landowner and the Land Trust.

Property Taxes

Island Heritage Trust recognizes the importance of property tax revenue for small towns in Maine. While exempt from property taxes as a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing public benefit, IHT elects to pay full property taxes on its office building and 150% of the Open Space cumulative rate that our conservation properties qualify for under Maine’s Current Land Use Program. These payments take the form of PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) each year, calculated by the mill rate and the assessed value.

IHT also contributes value to Deer Isle and Stonington by investing in the local schools (over $50,000 in personnel time and program value per year), supporting both towns’ comprehensive plans, economic development, and acting as a de facto parks & recreation department. All while not adding to the burden on municipal services and shared resources for each property, such as the transfer stations and groundwater.

A recent study found that, on average, a 1% increase in conserved acres in a town is associated with an average tax bill increase of $1 or less, learn more here: The Impact of Conservation Land on Property Taxes and Municipal.