45-43. Donation of Agricultural Conservation Easements.

  1. General. Henderson County may accept a voluntary donation of agricultural conservation easements or work with partners to facilitate these donations.
  2. Description. Donating agricultural conservation easements is legally binding, restricting owners and future owners to agricultural and/or forestry land use. The agricultural conservation easements will be held by either Henderson County or the Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District or in public trust by a qualified conservation organization. They will be in perpetuity and compliance with the North Carolina Conservation and Historic Preservation Agreements Act and applicable federal and state laws.
  3. Minimum eligibility criteria. There is no minimum acreage eligibility requirement to apply.
  4. Application procedure. Upon contact by a landowner, a meeting will be set with the Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District staff and the Farmland Preservation Coordinator or its designee to discuss the donation of an agricultural conservation easement.
  5. Funding. Any application seeking funding shall be ranked under 45-87.