Land Trust and Conservation Easements

The Plan

• Develop a liaison with land trust and conservation groups in the area, including:
• Muskoka Heritage Foundation

• The mandate of the Kahshe Lake Foundation will be to acquire land or interests in land for their permanent conservation/preservation.
• Examine in detail the mechanics of establishing a Land Trust – The Kahshe Lake Foundation,
• Incorporation and Charitable Trust status;
• “tax credit” status – donations of real property;
• fundraising; and
• Initiate a program to encourage bequests from major landholders.

• Identify candidate lands for possible acquisition through the Land Trust or for establishment of permanent Conservation Easements. Priority lands would include:
• Wetlands and other environmental protection lands;
• Private lands in front of significant fish habitat areas;
• Significant steep properties/cliffs;
• Small vacant privately owned islands; and,
• Properties with historic or scenic values of importance to the lake.

• Encourage property owners to take advantage of the Managed Forest Tax Credit program, to protect large holdings from immediate development by providing tax relief.
• Investigate the process for acquiring conservation easements on lands that cannot be acquired in the short term.