Idaho Working Lands 1 Idaho’s Private Forests, Ranches And Farms Natural Resources Interim Committee July 31, 2009
Idaho Working Lands 2 Private Working Lands Land UseAcres (million) Forest2.3 Pasture & Range 5.9 Crop5.5 Total13.8
Idaho Working Lands 3 Idaho Population 1955 Benchmark 2008 Census estimate 2030 Census forecast Change ~ 500K
Idaho Working Lands 4 Land Conversion Studies Forests on the Edge Strategic Ranchland Farmland on the Edge
Idaho Working Lands 5 Forests on the Edge Phase I Forecasts conversion of private forestland By watershed Phase II Focus on private land adjacent to national forests Published 2007 Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources In process IDL using Phase II methods
Idaho Working Lands 6 North Idaho Example
Idaho Working Lands 7 Strategic Ranchland Seven States Conversion risk 2020 Idaho Counties in West’s top 25 Bingham 336K Idaho 325K Cassia 275K American Farmland Trust
Idaho Working Lands 8 Farmland on the Edge 2002 Study Identifies Growth Pattern Based on past development High quality High development (red) Low development (green) Source American Farmland Trust
Idaho Working Lands 9 Conversion Impacts Fragments Private Land & Displaces Economic contribution Demand for support services Habitat for game and non-game species Access to public land Water – rural to urban uses Property tax revenue vs. service costs Amenities that attracted growth
Idaho Working Lands 10 Economic Contribution Private land Product sales Direct & indirect Economic base Support services Agriculture - >$20 Wildlife Recreation related purchases
Idaho Working Lands 11 Wildlife Habitat Idaho Wildlife Strategy Focal Areas Species of conservation need Habitat includes private and public land
Idaho Working Lands 12 Cost of Community Services
Idaho Working Lands 13 State Policy Tools Common issue in Western States Market forces drive conversion Real estate vs. production land value Policy Trends Market based incentives Conservation easements – voluntary agreements Partial funding by state, match to external funds Revenue source and administration varies
Idaho Working Lands 14 Market vs. Production Value Incentives
Idaho Working Lands 15 Habitat Montana Funding - nonresident licenses 223,800 acres $23 million over 20 years Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Funding - permanent account, donations, appropriations $14 million since 2006 Match Ratio: $6.50/$1 Utah Critical Land Conservation Fund Up to 50% of easement cost Match Ratio: $5/$1 Nevada Conservation Bond 2002 voter approved Objective – match external sources $6 million/year New Mexico Income Tax Credit Transferrable 50% of cost
Idaho Working Lands 16
Idaho Working Lands 17 Questions