Proposal Outline

I. American Forest Management Intro
A. Introduce the company I am working through
1. What their main consulting business consists of
2. What is the main portion of their business
B. Explain the land trust and conservation easement process
1. What exactly a land trust is
2. What is their purpose and how do they work
3. Name several large companies that deal with land trusts
4. Talk about how land trusts are becoming more of an issue with urban sprawl
II. Advantages and Disadvantages of Land Trusts
A. Advantages of Land Trusts
1. Why should landowners put their land in a trust
2. Financial Benefits
3. Protection for commercial or residential development
4. Continue utilization of natural resources on the land (timber, crops, etc.)
5. Provides green space among the urban sprawl
6. Will provide natural resources and aesthetic quality for future generations.
B. Disadvantages of Land Trusts
1. Financial benefits do not compare to those of what developers would offer
2. Development around your tract of land if you are the only land trust in the surrounding area
3. If you change your mind and decide you want to develop the land
III. How to become a land trust
A. Gather resources
1. Have ample knowledge on your land such as land area and the resources present
2. Have the information in some sort of document
B. Select Board of Directors
C. Create a mission statement
D. Apply to IRS for non-profit status
E. Natural Resources Census-when you come up with actual numbers and volumes
F. Create Community Awareness
G. Know the reasons for why you are doing it
IV. Conclusion
A. Give examples of successful private landowners who have started land trusts
B. Emphasize the increasing urban sprawl and we must ensure a source of natural resources for the
future