Cooperative Extension hosting ‘Protecting Your Legacy: Estate Planning, Land Conservation’ Oct. 17

ELLICOTTVILLE — For many landowners, their property represents more than acreage—it is a family legacy, a place filled with memories, and an important part of their community. 

But what happens to that land when the next generation takes over? Many rural landowners are thinking about

how their property will be transferred or conserved. One consideration is keeping their property intact for future generations.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Cattaraugus County and New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) will be hosting “Protecting Your Legacy: Estate Planning and Land Conservation” on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at CCE Cattaraugus, 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville.

This educational seminar will help landowners explore options for planning the future of their property

while considering family goals, financial needs, and land conservation. The program will provide a general overview of the estate planning process, along with an opportunity to learn from everwild land trust (formally Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy) about options for conserving all or part of your land.

The program will include a review of “Protecting Your Legacy: A New York Landowner’s Guide to

Conservation-Based Estate Planning,” a webinar presented by Paul Catanzaro. Participants will receive a copy of this guide. Estate planning for rural landowners can be complex. The goal is to provide participants with the information needed to successfully negotiate through the process.

Twan Leenders, Director of Conservation with everwild land trust, will discuss land conservation and options available to landowners who want to protect their property while planning for its long-term future.

Twan’s presentation will focus on land conservation and explaining why we need to protect land (and water) in our region. The presentation will also cover how they identify the ecologically and hydrologically most important areas using their proprietary GIS tool which was developed by everwild land trust a few years ago. 

Twan states “Even though this model helps us to prioritize and guide our conservation efforts, we can also use it to identify areas where ecological restoration efforts make the most sense and where economic development efforts could be sited to minimize the impact on our environment.”           

Estate planning is not only about what happens to your assets, it can also be about deciding what happens to the land you have cared for and whether it remains available for future generations.

“Planning ahead gives landowners an opportunity to think carefully about their goals for their property,” said CCE Cattaraugus Natural Resources Educator Kim Oudemool.

This seminar is intended for landowners who are beginning to think about succession planning, families considering the future of their property, and anyone interested in learning more about land conservation options.

Protect Your Land. Plan Your Future. Preserve Your Legacy.

Registration is not required but appreciated! Walk-ins are welcome.

For registration information or questions, contact Kim Oudemool, kkr35@cornell.edu