Saving history

More than 2,200 acres of open space in Culpeper County were placed into conservation easements in 2009, the Piedmont Environmental Council recently announced.

“We’re immensely pleased at what communities in the Piedmont have been able to accomplish to provide a legacy of conserved open space for our children and future generations,” said Chris Miller, president of the PEC. “When it comes to conservation, this is one of the most successful regions in the entire country.”

According to the Warrenton-based land use, public policy and environmental group, the 2,222 acres placed in easement last year brings the total area of protected land in the county to just over 18,065 acres. Overall, more than 325,530 acres — an area larger than Shenandoah National Park — is under easement in the PEC’s nine county area.

The PEC says easements help communities support two major industries — agriculture and tourism. Under the voluntary easements, landowners can earn a state tax credit. Farmers also benefit from reduced appraisal values on their land, which lightens their tax burden.

A 2003 study conducted by the American Farmland Trust in Culpeper County found that farms and other open lands use 32 cents in local services for every dollar of taxes paid, while homes require $1.22 for every dollar paid. Land placed under permanent easement also lowers the value used by the state to determine local ability to pay, which results in increased funding from the Commonwealth for schools and other county services.

“The tremendous gains we’ve seen in conservation over the last few years reflect the growing awareness among Culpeper’s residents of the importance of their landscape,” said Heather Richards, the PEC’s director of land conservation. “Conserving green spaces does more than just protecting pretty views. It protects drinking water and air quality, reduces traffic, keeps taxes down and preserves family farms.”