How Will Habitat Partner Money Be Used?
An agreement between landowners and a qualified conservation organization in which the owner of the land agrees to place restrictions on the type and amount of development that can take place on the property. Conservation easements can provide tax breaks for private landowners and ensure that the ranchers and landowners continue operations on the ranch while limiting the loss of habitat through land development.
A gift of land or real estate from a corporation or private landowner. If the land is not wildlife habitat, the AES will sell it and use the proceeds to protect wildlife habitat elsewhere. If the land contains good habitat, the AES may convey it to the appropriate wildlife agency or resell the property with a conservation easement in place.
The purchase of property with a portion of the price being discounted as a property donation. The AES pays the landowner a portion of the price and the landowner then donates the remaining value as a tax deductible charitable donation.
In accomplishing the Burro Creek realignment, the Arizona Elk Society was able to purchase a grazing allotment, realign the grazing pastures, and gain significant wildlife habitat. These type of projects bring together many agencies and individuals to work together to improve habitat to benefit all parties.
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HABITAT NEWS
Our latest Allotment purchase is Buck Springs!!! But the quest continues!!!
Today is a critical time in Arizona's history as it relates to wildlife habitat. Acre upon acre of private as well as trust land are being developed into small ranches that interfere with the natural migration of Elk and fragments their habitat.
Arizona Elk Society's Board of Directors saw a need to focus efforts to set aside land such as riparian areas, critical winter range, migration corridors, quality calving grounds and forage meadows. The plan included offering conservation easements to landowners that will help them continue operations on their land while limiting the loss of wildlife habitat through development. At the same time as these issues were being worked, the AES Board of Directors saw a need to raise funds in order to conserve land as wildlife habitat without taking away from the funds raised for on the ground improvements and youth projects. Thus was the Habitat Partners of Arizona program established.
By partnering with ranchers, landowners and government agencies the Habitat Partners of Arizona program will be able to maintain forage-rich grasslands, critical elk winter and summer ranges, migration corridors, calving grounds, natural water sources such as riparian areas, and increase wildlife habitat. After the land has been designated saved, the AES can then plan projects to restore and improve the habitat.
With the success of the Burro Creek allotment purchase and reconfiguration the AES opened a door that has shown we are a successful land conservation organization. Up until Burro Creek the AES had done a great job of improving habitat by funding smaller but important projects such as Pinion Juniper treatments, controlled burns, water developments and more. The AES will continue it's funding of these necessary projects. The AES is very proud of the Burro Creek accomplishment and with your help by becoming a Habitat Partner of Arizona; we will continue the work to conserve critical Elk habitat.
