By: Corey Creed

What is protected by conservation easements?

Conservation easements are tailored to the particular characteristics of the land. First, a complete natural resource inventory is developed, including maps, photographs of existing improvements, species lists, etc. By identifying sensitive areas, land use patterns, and any areas where limited development may be allowed, the inventory provides the conceptual framework for drafting the easement. At Drovers Road Preserve, the easement protects 59% of the entire property, including rare species habitat, four rare vascular plants, sensitive water resources, and the 150-year-old forest stands along the ridgeline.

How do conservation easements differ from restrictive covenants in subdivisions?

Though similar in that both govern how a property may be developed, land with a conservation easement differs in several significant ways from subdivisions under a restrictive covenant. Subdivision restrictions encourage controlled development of the property in order to protect private property values. Conservation easements, by contrast, are by definition designed primarily to preserve property in its natural state. Though many easements allow certain specified uses, a conservation easement is intended to provide benefits to the public at large, not just individual homeowners, by protecting native habitats and resident species of plants and animals.

Is a conservation easement a legally binding document?

If the easement will continue to bind future owners of the land, and if the donor wishes to claim a charitable contribution for the conveyance, it must be registered in the public land records (the “Registry”) of the county or counties where the property is located. Drovers Road Preserve, as a registered conservation easement property in Buncombe County, is legally protected from additional development for all future generations.

By: Julee Mitchelsin

Our society has many downfalls, but perhaps one of our biggest downfalls is that we are wasteful. Incredibly wasteful actually. Our lives are spent wasting time, energy, and emotion on people and activites that do nothing for us. We sit down to a meal and fill our plates with more food than we could possibly eat and the leftovers get wasted. We drive our cars to work and play without thinking of the gasoline that is being used irresponsibly. Everyone is guilty of wasting, and therefore everyone needs to add an important concept to many areas of their life: conservation.

Our first thoughts about conservation probably take us to picturing a rain forest somewhere in the jungle whose trees are being quickly cut down or to a village in Africa whose meager water supply is wasted on unnecessary things. While these are both situations that could rightly learn from the concept of conservation, there are many more areas of life that could learn a lesson as well.

I am a firm believer than any true change in the world will happen only as individuals start that change in their own lives. So let’s begin thinking about convservation as it relates only to our individual lives. Think about the most valuable resources you have at your disposal. For me, the most valuable resources are my time, energy, mind, and health. It is only as we begin to see our lives as full of natural resource that we can begin the process of conservation and protection of these resources.

If time is one my greatest assets I must think about the ways I spend or use that resource. I can practice conservation by looking for ways to use my time more efficiently and wisely. I must also look for ways to practive conservation of my energy. I can do this by taking time for exercise, proper sleep, and relaxing activities. The great resource of my mind needs to be conserved by taking time to enrich it through reading, studying and even writing. You should consider your own valuable resources and look for ways to practice the conservation of each of them.

As I am committed to practicing conservation in my own life then I can begin to look outside myself and see resources in my neighborhood or city that can be conserved as well. I will become increasingly aware of the necessity of spending all of the world’s valuable resources in effective and helpful ways.

Author: Wendy Pan

Community energy conservation efforts can go a long way with short changes to make a big difference. Community leaders can truly lead the way, by hosting public events that encourage residents to follow energy conservation practices. Local ordinances can be formed or rewritten to encourage conservation of local public resources, and provide avenues for residents to participate in resource conservation, recycling, and reuse of materials.

Local communities are working together to provide recycling centers for public use. They can revise building codes to promote environmentally sustainable technology so that new buildings and remodels are made into healthy buildings. Efforts can be made to avoid excess duplication, by not allowing strip malls on every corner that cover land and add to urban sprawl, through zoning laws that are more environmentally friendly than builder friendly.

As population spreads, so does the impact of pollution and the potential for permanent damage. Local communities can work together to protect the environment and indigenous species from this overload and damage. Mass transit systems can be improved and brought out to their remote communities. Car pooling parking lots can be zoned into land management and car pooling encouraged. Zoning can be planned for maximum use in minimum areas to preserve the landscape, and parks are wonderful additions for local residents. Renewable and recyclable building materials can be encouraged. How land is developed, and built up, has major impact upon local resources and natural habitats. Careful planning can help offset the impact and promote conservation efforts.

By providing local resources, local farm markets, and local recreation sites, overall energy consumption is reduced, and local businesses profit. Even utilities can be managed locally, with some communities being built with a target of zero energy cost, using solar and wind power systems for the entire area. Lighting in buildings and on streets can be refitted to be efficient, solar powered, and otherwise conservative of energy resources. In high population areas, parks help relive the urban heat island problem, as well as be available for local recreation and open spaces.

Community energy conservation needs to increase awareness of the eco-system, and promote new advances in conservation techniques and materials, so they get used. Small changes by all can lead to big results for conservation of natural resources like water, electric and natural gas. Businesses can encourage employees to follow conservative practices at work as well as at home, like turning off unneeded lighting, and powering down machinery and computers when not working with them.

By Anne Clarke

Even if you do not consider yourself an environmentalist, a little fuel conservation can really help not just the environment, but also your wallet! The price of petrol seems to always be on the rise. The best defense against rising gas prices is fuel conservation.

Map out a good plan of fuel conservation by following these helpful ways to conserve fuel:

Great fuel conservation starts before you even hit the road:

· Keep your vehicle properly tuned, and it can get from 6 to 20 percent better gas mileage.

· Keep your tires aligned and inflated properly. You should check your tire pressure once a month. Having tire pressures that are too low can increase your use of fuel by 3%

· Replace your air filter.

· If you are not using your roof-racks, take them off! They add to drag. Unnecessary weight in your car can also take away from good gas mileage (this does not mean that you can throw your sister out of the car to conserve fuel… although, it would help!)

· Another way to start good fuel conservation is to plan ahead. Combine your errands into one trip. Think about riding your bike, walking, riding the bus, or carpooling when possible and reasonable.

Fuel conservation can greatly be improved while you are driving or at the pump:

· Slow down! There is a reason why you coast to a gas station when your vehicle is on empty – you are not going to get to a gas station faster by driving faster when the faster you drive the more gas you use! In simpler terms, your fuel usage will greatly decrease when you are driving at speeds above 55 mph. Besides, you will have a safer drive when you slow down, too.

· Avoid rapid accelerating. In fact, you ought to let up on the accelerator (by driving slower), and when you use the accelerator, use it gently. There is a reason why it is called “stepping on the gas.” The harder you step on the gas, the faster you use up your gas. Relax your driving style. Do not drive aggressively. Accelerate slowly. Driving aggressively can lessen your fuel conservation by 30-40 percent.

· Do not tailgate because it will lead to unnecessary braking and then acceleration.

· Do not idle. Modern cars no longer need to warm up to run.

· Turn off your car when you are waiting for someone.

· Your cruise control will add to your fuel conservation (of course, it is unreasonable to use it while just driving around town.)

· Your use of the air conditioner lessens your fuel economy, as well, especially if you use it at 40 mph or more. Why not just open the window to cool off? Park your vehicle in the shade.

· Using overdrive will lessen your fuel consumption while on the highway.

· Drive at the highest appropriate gear.

· While at the gas pump, use the lowest octane petrol suitable for your car – check your owner’s manual.

· Fill up your car with gas early in the morning and on cooler days. The colder the gasoline is, the more compact it is… you will therefore end up getting more bang for your buck.

This may seem like a long road to fuel conservation, but even just doing a few of these things can really help improve your gas mileage. You could possible improve your fuel conservation by 40% or so by following some of these tips.

If all of these suggestions seem overwhelming, just take a few at a time. The road to great fuel conservation can be a long one. Most all of the tips that we have given as of yet can be found in greater detail at the U.S. Department of Energy.

All of the tips on fuel conservation that we have given you so far have to do with the vehicle that you already have. If you are planning on going out and buying a new vehicle, consider a vehicle that conserves fuel by design.

Check out the hybrids or smaller cars. A hybrid vehicle may cost more at the onset, but you will surely save money in the end, especially if gas prices continue to rise. If you do not need a ton of horsepower, abandon it – you will get better gas mileage.