| Methods of Conservation |
 Jaycox Creek Falls on a 390 acre property protected by a conservation easement.  This 40 acre property was donated to GVC and now has public trails and provides for educational opportunities for students. .jpg) This 75 acre farm has highly productive soils that are protected by a NYS purchased conservation easement. |
| Easement Donation GVC's primary protection method is by conservation easement. A landowner donates the development rights of his or her land to the Conservancy, while keeping all other ownership rights. This ensures the safekeeping of the land for the future and allows the landowner to continue living on and enjoying their property. The donation of a conservation easement may qualify the landowner for tax benefits. Learn more... Land Donation GVC accepts gifts of land through a variety of methods, depending on each individual property and the landowner's wishes. Gifts of environmentally significant land can be maintained by GVC through ownership or sold by GVC subject to a conservation easement. Additionally, lands without environmental significance (such as a residence, or commercial property) can be sold by GVC as a fundraiser to support our conservation efforts. Tax benefits may apply to gifts of land. Learn more... The Island Preserve - A 40 acre parcel donated to GVC Farmland Protection The Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program accesses State funding to buy conservation easements on farms. The purpose of this program is to protect viable farming operations across the State. A farmer can sell the development rights on their farm while still maintaining ownership of the land and continuing to farm the land as before. This program starts on the County level in January with a pre-application process. This is a highly competitive program on both the State and the County level. Learn More... For information on these or other preservation techniques, please contact GVC. The Threat If current development continues without intervention, our community faces serious challenges: The disappearance of valuable farmland. Our community has a long history of farming. Presently inflated land costs and high taxes are threatening this. A destruction of habitats and natural areas. The natural systems that provide support to the animals and plants -as well as water quality- are seriously threatened. The loss of unique scenic beauty. The scenic nature of the Genesee Valley is one of the most appealing aspects of the region. Combined, these losses result in a transformation of the community we presently reside in, to one much more suburban in character. Working against these threats is not anti-growth. GVC strives to introduce conservation options for landowners (and the community), while allowing for the growth necessary for prosperity. With foresight and sound planning, this is possible. |