At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, an introductory workshop on conservation easements will be presented at the Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne, providing information for landowners and a discussion of best practices for professionals, including attorneys.
Texas attorneys will receive one accredited CLE hour from the State Bar of Texas. Cost of the workshop is $20, and registration in advance is recommended: Call 210-249-4616 or visit www.ciboloconservancy.org for information.
Attendance can be in person or virtually with link provided two days prior to the event.
Landowner interest in conservation easements is growing statewide. Through a conservation easement, the land and its beauty are protected for owners and future generations.
A conservation easement is a time-tested tool for landowners to minimize future development of their property through a relationship with a land trust. An easement does not grant public access, and the owner retains ownership of the land. The role of a land trust is to ensure the owner’s wishes are protected in perpetuity, and legally enforced if ever necessary.
And conservation easements can do something more – they can protect family legacies, generations of memories and artifacts and stories that instruct us about our local history. A family’s bond to the land often leads to good stewardship and long-term thinking about what is good for the land. Careful estate planning is crucial for landowners who care about the future their land.
The presenters for the two-hour workshop:
Brent Evans is executive of the Cibolo Conservancy Land Trust, co-founder of the Cibolo Nature Center and recipient of the 2006 Texas Environmental Excellence Award. He has overseen 30 conservation easements in the Hill Country.
Brent will describe the process for developing and funding conservation easements for landowners, including how to find professional assistance, and how to discuss the process with family members.
Donna Taylor has recently accepted the position of director of operations for the Cibolo Conservancy. She has been providing easement monitoring for the conservancy for many years.
Donna served as the staff environmental scientist for the Cibolo Nature Center for 11 years. Simultaneously, she has been the principal and FAA certified chief pilot for Avia Enviro, an environmental consulting firm that provides services related to conservation easement baselines, monitoring and drone imaging services.
She has published various peer-reviewed articles related to her research on the big tooth maple, a tree species that is a remnant of the last ice age, as well as articles on drone usage for science.
Donna currently serves as treasurer and science advisor on the board of trustees for the Cibolo Preserve, an outdoor natural habitat laboratory located in Boerne. She is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas and Society for Conservation GIS.
Donna will explain easements from the scientist point of view – how the conservation values of properties are assessed, how easements protect the flora and fauna of the land and how a baseline survey of the land is conducted.
Jim Bradbury, PLLC as his practice focuses on business as well as real estate, water and conservation law. His firm has offices in Fort Worth and Austin. Jim has a focus on the legal and policy issues facing Texas property owners, working with statewide associations on legislative and regulatory matters, including amicus briefing to the Texas Supreme Court on issues of statewide importance.
Mr. Bradbury is an adjunct Professor at Texas A&M Law School, teaching Ag Law, Natural Resources and Eminent Domain Policy. He also regularly speaks on land and water issues facing Texas landowners.
Jim has been substantially involved in land conservation efforts in Texas for many years and serves on the board of the Texas Land Trust Council working to conserve some of the last best places in Texas. He will focus on the legal basics that can ensure sound planning.
Join us on Wednesday, May 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the auditorium of the Cibolo Nature Center. Registration in person on the day of the event and online at www.ciboloconservancy.org.
Cibolo Happenings
May 7
• Farmers Market at Herff Farm, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Join us at the Farmers Market at Herff Farm and enjoy locally produced products and goods from small businesses and farms in the Texas Hill Country. Herff Farm offers trails and programming for children and adults. More information is available on www.cibolo.org.
• Storytime at the Farm – Miss Constance of the Patrick Heath Library, 10-11 a.m. Miss Constance will host a Peter Rabbit-themed story adventure from the amphitheater at Herff Farm. A backup location will be announced on the day of if it rains. This is a free event.
May 13-14
• Boerne Art Waddle, 4-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Boerne’s largest art festival, the annual Art Waddle takes place along Cibolo Creek Trail. Named after Boerne’s famous ducks that waddle along the Cibolo Creek, this long-standing event includes artists, area galleries, shops and interactive activities for children and adults. Proceeds benefit the Cibolo Center for Conservation Summer Art Camp for kids and the Hill Country Council for the Arts.
May 13
• Night Hikes for Adults – Explore the Cibolo at Night, 8-9:30 p.m. Join the Cibolo Staff as they walk the trails learning about all the nocturnal animals that call the Cibolo home. This is a longer hike suitable for adults 18 and over. Attendees should bring comfortable shoes, a flashlight, and a water bottle. Register on www.cibolo.org
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