PERC moves

Well, at least Dominic's Parker study on conservation easments has moved. Apparently PERC has moved some things on its site around. To read the paper, try http://perc.org/pdf/ps34.pdf. I confess I still haven't gotten too far into it, but here's the synopsis provided by the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Public funding mechanisms that encourage full accountability and transparency while also providing trusts with flexibility to use their discretion have the best potential, says Parker. This could be done by:
-Increasing oversight of the easement appraisal process; the nonprofit Land Trust Alliance has proposed an accreditation system that would certify land trusts who want to receive donated conservation easements and certified land trusts would use accredited appraisers.
-Replace federal tax breaks with a competitive grant program that requires trusts to raise matching funds from private sources and local government; ideally, 75 percent or more of the total cost of the conservation easement would be paid by the recipient organization.