New Mexico Land Conservation Incentive Act Policy Reform

RGALT is leading a collaborative effort on reforming the New Mexico Land Conservation Incentive Act (LCIA) to better support landowners, leverage agency conservation programs and expand conservation across the state. The LCIA currently provides a transferable tax credit for 50% of conservation easement value with a cap of $250,000 per transaction. The current cap set in 2008, no longer reflects today’s land prices or higher transaction costs. Modeled after Colorado’s successful program, New Mexico land trusts propose raising the credit to 80% of easement value with a cap of $2 million. This reform would make conservation more accessible for farmers and ranchers while enabling larger projects that protect watersheds, wildlife corridors, and cultural resources across the state. To learn more click here.