In spring of 2021, the Commission released an updated version of the Requirements Manual and a document outlining the changes. Some of the changes begin to take effect in 2022. Each month we will be highlighting a change, why we made it and why it is important. This month we're looking at an update to a transaction requirement.

Why is it important?

Most conservation transactions that involve a tax deduction do not raise the types of concerns addressed in this requirement. However, the public's impression of land trusts and support for private land conservation is affected by their perception of the integrity of conservation transactions. While the Internal Revenue Service does not hold land trusts responsible for the tax deductions claimed by a landowner, land trusts have an obligation to help minimize misuse of tax policies that have effectively led to the voluntary protection of land.

What changed and why?

• The requirement clarifies that land trusts have a responsibility to consider a transaction as a whole and take action to ensure they are not knowingly participating in a potentially fraudulent or abusive transaction.
• The requirement includes more information about what types of triggers should be flagged as possibly causing substantial concerns and what actions the land trust can take to resolve those concerns.
• For more information, see the Land Trust Alliance's narratives on indicator element 10C2 and 10C3: Avoiding Fraudulent or Abusive Transactions.

If you have questions about any of the changes, please contact us at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to see the entire Summary of Changes and to download the Requirements Manual.