Working with landowners to protect habitat restored by Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage

By employing tax-advantaged financing and estate planning, the CWH Landowner Services Program finds innovative ways to permanently save land for wildlife habitat in partnership with current or future landowners. Conservation easements are designed that make financial sense for landowners while permanently protecting wildlife habitat.

The highlight of 2008 was the donation of Canterbury Farm to CWH. The farm was donated by Mrs. Martha Ann Healy and her family. This extraordinary gift will benefit wildlife near Easton, Maryland. Located on Bailey's Neck, the 150-acre farm contains approximately 100 acres of wetlands, 30 acres of mature woodlands, a 5-acre farm pond and 15 acres of agricultural land.

In 2001, CWH worked with Mrs. Healy to restore more than 100 acres of wetlands on the farm, including 18 acres of forested wetlands, 45 acres of wet meadows and 38 acres of shallow emergent wetlands.

A wide diversity of wildlife enjoy the wetlands including Scarlet Tanagers (forested wetlands), Song Sparrows (wet meadows) and Northern Pintails (shallow emergent wetlands). The wetlands at Canterbury Farm have already become one of the most important waterfowl sanctuaries in Talbot County. The wetland restorations also helped improve water quality in the Tred Avon River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Also in 2008, CWH donated a conservation easement to the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) that will protect the wildlife habitat on our Bozman Field property in perpetuity. Located at the intersection of St. Michaels Road and Bozman-Neavitt Road, just west of St. Michaels, Maryland, the 29-acre property contains 12 acres of mature woodlands and 17 acres of old field. Under CWH's management, the old fields are reverting to wooded wetlands. The woodlands and wetlands are helping to improve water quality downstream in the Choptank River.

Bozman Field was donated to CWH in 2006 with intent that CWH would protect the property from development. The easement prohibits the construction of any structures and subdivision of the property. Furthermore, wildlife habitat on the property is protected from conversion to agricultural uses and commercial logging is prohibited.

The Landowner Services Program has evaluated other farms and CWH expects to protect several of these properties in the near future. The program has also provided advice and services to other landowners and community groups that are striving to protect locally significant resource lands.

If you are interested in the purchase of land, which has been restored for wildlife habitat and placed in a conservation easement, please call Chris at 410-822-5100.