About Ties to the Land

The Ties to the Land Initiative assists woodland owners in addressing communication issues and the emotional and legal aspects of succession planning. A succession plan is a more effective means for land owners to pass on their legacy than a traditional estate plan. An estate plan is just one step in succession planning.

A good estate plan will ensure heirs receive the land with lowered tax obligations. Good succession planning is a way of building shared vision and passion for the land among the current owners and the heirs as well as passing on the land with reduced estate taxes. At the Ties to the Land Initiative we recognize there are differences among family members’ values, goals, and skills, and help owners form an effective plan to keep land in the family or identify alternative paths when continued family ownership is not an option.

We provide the essential tools and resources that help woodland owners make the decisions necessary to achieve their objectives and pass their land to succeeding generations.

Our Ties to the Land guide helps you think through the social, financial and legal aspects of succession. Worksheets help you refine your goals, take stock of assets and sketch out a timeline, while case studies bring the lessons home

Mission and Vision

The Ties to the Land Initiative provides education and inspiration to woodland owners, land-based family businesses, professional service providers and educators to help families meet the objectives of keeping land in family ownership and retaining forests. The land grant university-based initiative provides programs, written materials, learning resources and website resources for land owners. We work with and through a network of national and local landowner, conservation and civic organizations, and state and federal agencies who expand both our programmatic scope and reach. Our focus on education and the quality of our collaborators provide both distinctiveness and effectiveness.