1. Engaging Absentee Landowners in Conservation
Potomac Conservancy
Partners:
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Loudoun and Lord Fairfax SWCDs, VA
Eastern Panhandle Conservation District, WV

2. Goals and Objectives
Engage at least 500 non-operator landowners in conservation through the services of a Landowner Advisor

3. Why Is This so Cool?
Large, under-tapped audience that own a lot of land
Absentee Landowner %
OWNERS
ACRES
Delaware
32%
73%
Maryland
51%
57%
Virginia
42%
45%
Pennsylvania
44%
37%
West Virginia
35%
29%
1997 Census of Agriculture, Agricultural Economics and Land Ownership Survey (1999)

4. Results so Far: More than 500 landowners receiving outreach materials
75 landowners expressing interest (15%)
37 landowners requesting site assessments
Leveraged FS money to raise additional $386,000 for this effort

5. Challenges
Moving landowners from interest to action