Land Conservation Interview with Rob McCrea

Interview with Rob McCrea, Land Conservation Attorney

A Bloomington native, Rob received his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, and practiced at his grandfather’s law firm in Bloomington before deciding to return to his environmental roots, first working for Sycamore Land Trust as the Land Preservation Director and now at the Conservation Law Center as the Land Conservation Attorney. His work focuses on the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape project, for which CLC is the lead coordinator.

Question: Explain why natural land conservation is important to address climate change?

McCrea: Natural land conservation serves as the cornerstone of the global effort to preserve biodiversity and maintain healthy ecosystems. It starts at the local level with place-based decision- making and culminates into regional efforts that connect vast areas and ecosystems. This creates corridors for ecosystem-based adaptation to build resiliency to climate change.

Question: The CLC land protection program supports conservation organizations in various ways. Could you elaborate on what services you offer and share specific examples of how this assistance has made a difference for organizations and the environment in Indiana?

McCrea: Nationwide, organizations involved in land conservation such as land trusts and cooperatives focused on land restoration are running into capacity issues and opportunities for conservation are being lost because of this. CLC provides essential assistance to these organizations to help bridge this capacity gap. We provide services without any fees to advise and representnonprofits on matters related to land transactions and all aspects of conservation easements. More land is getting permanently protected and properly taken care of because of CLC.

Question: You mentioned conservation easements. What are conservation easements, and how will they benefit land trusts and landowners in Indiana?

McCrea: Conservation easements, or CEs, are an important tool in the conservation toolbox. CEs support conservation on a property by limiting certain uses of the land but allowing landowners to retain ownership. One of the core functions of CLC is to make sure all land trusts in Indiana have access to the most up-to-date conservation easement templates. We complete periodic reviews of tax decisions that impact tax deductibility and make sure our templates follow current best practices. When land trusts in Indiana use the CLC template they can be assured that they are starting from a baseline that is carefully drafted and meets all federal tax deductibility requirements.

Question: Governance is crucial for the success of conservation organizations. Can you elaborate on how CLC supports organizations in reviewing and drafting governance documents like bylaws and policies?

McCrea: We offer corporate governance support to nonprofit organizations, assisting with establishing new entities and conducting bylaws reviews for existing ones. Our goal is to ensure that new nonprofits are set up correctly from the start, adhering to the highest standards of practice.

Question: How does CLC collaborate with other organizations to expand land conservation efforts and maximize positive outcomes for the environment and communities in Indiana?

McCrea: CLC is the hub of the wheel with regards to land conservation in Indiana. We have access to a broad network of assistance for complex conservation transactions and opportunities for funding that we deliver to land trusts and land management cooperatives in Indiana. We make sure these organizations submit the strongest possible grants for federal and private funding opportunities.