Virginia forestland is a valuable asset to society, providing clean air and water, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities and renewable wood resources for all Virginians. Because almost two-thirds of Virginia’s woods are owned by private individuals, the decisions they make for their land can have far reaching impacts on the sustainability of Virginia’s forests.
One of the biggest challenges that Virginia’s landowners face is how to pass the family forest on to the next generation. Landowners often want to preserve their family lands but don’t know how to get started, what their options are, or how to engage the future owners in ownership and management activities. If these issues concern you, an upcoming workshop may be able to answer some of your questions.
“Focusing on Forest Land Transfer to Generation ‘NEXT’” is being offered at six locations throughout Virginia in July and August. Two 2-day workshops in Abingdon and Lynchburg and four half-day mini-workshops in Alberta, Halifax, Farmville and Surry are planned. The workshops focus on intergenerational land transfer and will educate landowners on their options for keeping land intact, in forest and in the family. Speakers include legal and financial experts in estate planning, natural resource professionals and experienced landowners. Attendees will learn about the estate planning process, effective planning tools and family communication strategies, and will be provided resources to help minimize tax burdens and ensure continued management of their land.
The upcoming programs are co-sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Registration information and contact information for the programs can be found at: https://ext.vt.edu/natural-resources/legacy-planning/training.html
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