Working Forest and

Conservation

Presentation to
MD Governors Forestry Commission

Prevent the conversion of forestland to

other uses
Maintain the economic reasons to keep
forests as forests-a viable industry in MD
Increase public confidence in and support
for sustainable forestry practices

Protecting forests is too big a task for any

one groupwe need to work together.
Success will require building a new tool kit
of working forest easements, tax policy,
conservation planning and incentives

Parsonfield, Maine:10,000 acre working forest

Property up for development into 15 parcels

TNC partnered with private investor to buy the property.
Investor gave TNC option to purchase an easement to
buy time for us to raise $$
TNC, working with state legacy program obtained the
funds to purchase easement with donation from town and
private fund raising- $2.5 m total.
Land protected from development but will remain in
working forest

In four state area of NY, VT, NH, ME TNC has

helped purchase 2.5 million acres of working
forest easements
Cost ~$300 million w/ State/Federal providing
close to $100 m, private investors providing over
$100 m

Nash State Forest- NH 49,000 acres

Errol Town Forest NH 2,000 acres
Randolph Town Forest NH 6,000 acres

Properties funded by bond issues, private

fundraising and forest legacy. All are
managed as working forests

TNC purchases $50 m in GNP debt from

other lender
Trades $14 m in debt for 41,000 acres of
reserves
Provides company with a lower interest rate
note in exchange for easement on 200,000
acres of key conservation land ($36 m,7
years @4%. 4% is currently the cost of TNC
capital)

Federal New Market Tax Credits have been used

to help private investors purchase forest land in
exchange for conservation easements:
5 projects totaling $129 m in tax credits linked to
conservation on 1.5 million acres so far. MD has many
counties eligible

NMTC used to refinance 2 paper mills (ME) and

pallet manufacturer (NM)
Expanding MDs state programs (current use,
tradable tax deductions on gifts of easements CO, VA)

TNC has been major proponent of

developing markets for carbon linked to
protecting and restoring forests:
6 projects in US and overseas- $35 m in
investment by utilities to reduce greenhouse
gases

Opportunity to work with NE governors to

create regional market for greenhouse
gases

Forest harvesting had ground to a halt in most

state owned land due to public concern over
harvesting
TNC in partnership with state help broker a new
strategy
State designation of ecological reserves on about 20%
of state lands
Certification of other state lands by third party programs

Early indications are that with proper controls, the

public can accept long term forest management
as a tool for public lands.

TNC on boards of both FSC and SFI

programs
The Maine example: Governors
commitment to have 75% of its working
forest certified lead to Time inc increasing
paper purchases by 19%.

We can help each other

Build community commitment to protecting
forests by proactive strategy of
conservation and industry working together.