Governor Perdue Announces Major Conservation Easement from Famed Musician Chuck Leavell

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that musician Chuck Leavell, best known for his work with artists such as The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, The Black Crowes, George Harrison, The Allman Brothers Band and more, as well as having his own solo career has donated a conservation easement of almost 300 acres of his beloved Charlane Plantation, an award-winning pine forest plantation and hunting preserve, to the state of Georgia. 

"We are very grateful to Chuck for his generosity in this donation and setting the example for other landowners", praised Governor Perdue. "Through conservation easements such as these, landowners can continue to use and enjoy their property while valuable ecosystem services such as clean air, clean water, and wildlife habitats are provided forever and benefit the quality of Georgia's environment."

Mr. Leavell is no stranger to the issue of land conservation. Mr. Leavell and his wife Rose Lane, were selected as the 1999 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year by the American Forest Foundation and the American Tree Farm System. Leavell is also a spokesperson for the Georgia Forestry Association.

Leavell was appointed to the Georgia Land Conservation Council by Governor Sonny Perdue on September 11, 2006.   On the Council, he learned of its efforts to promote the use of conservation easements to protect land and natural resources in Georgia.   He then decided to set the example for other landowners to follow and donated his own land to the state of Georgia.

The donation makes Mr. Leavell eligible to receive recently increased federal tax incentives and a new state tax credit for landowners who donate conservation easements from their property.

The easement on Chuck's Charlane Plantation in Middle Georgia will be held initially by The Conservation Fund and then transferred to the Georgia Forestry Commission.

About Land Conservation Easements

• In the 5 years between 2000 and 2005, the amount of land protected by local and state land trusts using easements doubled to 6.2 million acres nationally.
• There are about 500 conservation easements in Georgia held by private land trusts and the state, with a 250 percent increase over the past 4 years.
• When landowners place conservation easements on their property, they give up the right to develop that land for perpetuity. In return, the owner gets a federal tax deduction and a state tax credit based on the amount of income lost from potential development of the land.
• Properties with conservation easements remain in the stewardship of the private landowner and remain on the local tax rolls.
• Georgia is one of 12 states with a tax credit program for the donation of conservation land or a conservation easement.
• More than 50 private land trusts capable of holding and monitoring conservation easements operate in Georgia.
• Mr. Leavell becomes one of the first private landowners in the state to take advantage of the new state income tax credit program for land conservation donations as well as the recently increased federal income tax deduction for such donations.
• Request for the easement to the Georgia State Properties Commission came from the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) through the Georgia Forest Legacy Program. The Property will be managed by the landowner (Chuck Leavell) in conjunction with the Forest Stewardship Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission.
• The interest in the land will be held by the State of Georgia and administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission and managed as a working forest. The GFC will also assist in the development and implementation of a written management plan that will guide the management of the property for multiple purposes. The property will be acquired for a consideration of $1. The value of the property, including land and improvements for title insurance purposes is estimated to be $500,000.