Every day, we are hearing and reading about how Congress is stalled, stagnant and doing nothing to earn respect of American voters. I have learned that the opposite is true of the Arkansans we have sent to Washington, despite the wrangling and disagreements they face each day, as well as constant pounding in the media.
In past years, the tax incentives for conservation easements to preserve land have been on a roller coaster, buried in thousand-page Farm Bills with no guarantee of passage. Landowners could never be certain of the advantages of conserving their land through easement donation.
Recently, the tax incentives were made permanent with unanimous support of our Arkansas congressional delegation.
Landowners now have vastly increased opportunities to protect lands with important natural, agricultural, historic resources. I recently traveled to Washington to thank our delegation for their support of this legislation and the conservation of Arkansas' natural resources. You may not be aware of their work on your behalf:
• Congressman Bruce Westerman is the only registered forester in Congress. He sits on the House Natural Resources Committee and voted for this bill. He continues to work on protection of our beautiful Arkansas forests.
• Congressman Steve Womack, sitting on the House Appropriations Committee, co-sponsored the bill and voted for its passage. He works for a balanced budget so that such tax incentives may be preserved.
• Congressman French Hill voted for this bill. An outdoor enthusiast since his days as a Boy Scout, he is now working to secure federal funding to expand wildlife and natural-area preserves in Arkansas.
• Congressman Rick Crawford, a co-sponsor of the bill, sits on the House Agriculture Committee. His office, with ducks in flight on the outer-office walls and a photo in his waders with an impressive string of fish, is evidence of his support of outdoor recreation in our state.
• Senator John Boozman sits on both the Senate Agriculture and Appropriations committees. He was a co-sponsor of this bill and also a co-sponsor of the Senate's North American Wetlands Conservation Act to increase bird populations and wetland habitat. There can be no doubt of his concern for preserving our state's natural beauty.
• Senator Tom Cotton, also a co-sponsor of the bill. Having grown up on an Arkansas farm, he returned home from the Iraq war to enter public service. He is a hunter and a staunch advocate of the preservation of family farms. He has been vocal in his appreciation of the value of being close to the land.
Due to the efforts of our Arkansas congressional delegation, the tax advantages of conservation easements now include a 15-year carry-forward. This is a great benefit for farmers who see lean crop years in periods of flooding or drought, or forest owners who may suffer from ice storms or fire. It can help them to bridge the lean years and preserve ownership of their land--not only for their own use, but also for the generations to come.
Land is the most precious natural resource of our state. From the Louisiana Purchase, through settlement as a territory, statehood, up to the present day, this land has provided sustainable nutrients for agricultural and forest products, the flow of clean water, storage of minerals, productive jobs, and the beauty we now enjoy for recreation.
In this year of political turmoil we, as voters, can be grateful to those who represent us in Congress for their support to preserve the Arkansas farms, forests and open space we love.
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Carol P. Williams is executive director of Land Trust of Arkansas.
Editorial on 05/07/2016
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