JANUARY, 2019
NVCT NEWSLETTER
IN THE COMMUNITY
ALDO LEOPOLD READ-A-THON
Thanks to everyone who came out to our Aldo Leopold Read-a-thon this past Sunday! Attendees heard spoken excerpts from Leopold's books and enjoyed an evening of celebrating his 132nd birthday. Special thanks to the Villages of Piedmont for allowing us to host the event in their cozy clubhouse. To view the full album of photos, click here.
NEARBY NATURE ART GALLERY SHOWCASE
We hope to see you this Friday, January 25 at the Reston Art Gallery & Studios to view the incredible photographs from our 2018 Nearby Nature photo competition. View shots of wildlife and landscapes all captured in Northern Virginia by local photographers. Light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.

Click here to check out our Facebook event. Any questions? Give us a call at 703-354-5093.
ROTARY CLUB OF DUNN LORING-MERRIFIELD 
Last month, our executive director Alan Rowsome was a guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Dunn Loring-Merrifield where he received a recognition of service award. Rotary International has a membership of more than 1 million individuals and complete projects that create lasting impacts. To learn more about the Dunn Loring-Merrifield chapter, visit their website.
INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL
We had a wonderful staff work day at a local conserved property in Fairfax County. Hear from our Land Stewardship Specialist, Daniel Saltzberg, and the importance of planting natives and removing invasive plants in Northern Virginia.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
25 YEARS OF SAVING NEARBY NATURE 
On March 21, 2019 we will be hosting our 25th Anniversary Luncheon at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA. Governor Ralph Northam has been invited as the keynote speaker. There are a limited number of tickets so be sure to secure your seat today.

Click here to purchase your ticket. Please see below to learn more about luncheon sponsorship opportunities.
LUNCHEON SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Interested in becoming a sponsor for our 25 Years of Saving Nearby Nature Luncheon? To see the full list of opportunities, view our official sponsorship packet.
IN THE NEWS
THE ANNANDALE BLOG
Every bit of unused land doesn't need to be developed: Conservation Trust offers an alternative

"From one-acre parcels to much larger tracts, we look for land with conservation value that is worthy of protection. NVCT is your region’s land trust working to safeguard the places you love by keeping property undeveloped and intact for future generations. We preserve the beauty and sustainability of our lands and waters, our quality of life, and the air we all breathe." Read more.
BAY JOURNAL
Bid to build townhomes on VA floodplain draws opposition

"Alan Rowsome, executive director of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, said turning the property into a park is still a better fit for the environment and the community. His organization is eager to broker a deal to that end, he said, but it would likely rely on the land being donated and finding remediation partners." Read more.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRIORITIES
As the new year begins, the Virginia State Assembly is in session between now and mid-February considering all manner of legislation that affects us in our daily lives. As your local land trust, NVCT is following specific bills and budget items that impact land and water conservation and protection in Northern Virginia and throughout the state. A few pieces of legislation we are currently tracking include:

  • HB2009 -- Directs the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation to solicit proposals for land conservation projects that would seek grant funding in the future and to establish an annual ranked list of such projects (SUPPORT)
  • HB2482 -- Provides that if Virginia or one of its political subdivisions operates a facility on land donated for a land preservation tax credit, including charging fees for the use of such facility, such operation of a facility shall not disqualify the donation from eligibility for the credit, so long as any fees are used for conservation or preservation purposes (LIKELY OPPOSE)
  • HB1816 -- Extends the amount of time a taxpayer is allowed to claim the land preservation tax credit to December 31 of the second year following the calendar year that the eligible conveyance of land was made (SUPPORT)
  • SB1190 -- Creates the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, which preserves the right of a co-tenant to sell his interest in inherited real estate, while ensuring that the other co-tenants will have the necessary due process, including notice, appraisal, and right of first refusal, to prevent a forced sale (SUPPORT)
  • SB1340 -- Lowers the threshold from $1 million to $500,000 for conservation value review of land preservation tax credit applications by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (NEUTRAL)
  • HB2755 -- Eliminates the requirement that a conservation easement conform to the comprehensive plan at the time the easement is granted for the area in which the real property is located (LIKELY OPPOSE)
  • HB2705 -- Provides that the $5 million per year limit on the amount of historic rehabilitation tax credit that may be claimed by each taxpayer, which currently expires on January 1, 2019, shall apply to all future taxable years. (SUPPORT)

NVCT is also working very hard to support the Northam Administration’s budget proposal of $11 million over the next two years for the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation as well as funding increases for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation that manages our parks and natural area preserves.