The Cibolo Conservancy Land Trust, in partnership with the Hill Country Alliance, will host a landowner workshop on conservation easements Aug. 25 at the Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne.

Organizers said conservation easements are a tool available to help landowners steward and protect their land investment in the long term.

Workshop topics include: My Dream for My Land, a video narrated by Bob Webster; conservation easement basics and income and estate tax benefits of donating a conservation easement; the land trust role in the conservation easement process; and discussion with conservation easement donors.

Organizers said conservation easements are one of the most flexible and effective means to protect private property.

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that ensures a property will forever be conserved according to the landowner’s wishes. No public access is required. This agreement is negotiated between the landowner and the land trust organization that is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the terms of the conservation easement agreement.

Many landowners are concerned about conserving those special natural features on their family-owned property and maintaining the productivity of their land. Landowners face the challenge of increasing tax burdens associated with land ownership, including the potential impact of estate taxes on their heirs. This seminar is designed to provide farmers, ranchers and other landowners with effective tools and resources to help them deal with the issues inherent in passing family land on to future generations.

The workshop is set for 2- 5 p.m. at the Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium, located at 140 City Park Road, in Boerne.

The cost is $20 per person, which includes refreshments and a social following the workshop. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is advised to ensure a seat.

Register and find the full program agenda online at http://www.hillcountryalliance.org/upcomingevents/.

More information is available by contacting the workshop coordinator Carolyn Vogel at carolyn@texasconservationconnection.com or 512-633-4995.