Natural Resource Grants

overview

Land conservation endeavors to protect ecologically significant land for a variety of purposes, including water quality protection, wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, preservation of scenic views, and conservation of important forest and agricultural lands.

Land conservation helps to maintain New Hampshire’s economic base by ensuring an adequate long-term supply of forest products, and local food remains available, as well as enhancing the tourism industry. Land conservation not only protects the irreplaceable physical resources of our natural environment, but also protects the vitality, quality of life, and sense of place that are so important in our communities and in our state.

All resources conserved with LCHIP funds are required to be protected with a conservation easement or deed restrictions, or in some cases a grant agreement.

eligibility 

LCHIP grant funds may be used for certain costs directly associated with the acquisition of land or easements for the purpose of protecting ecologically significant lands, existing and potential public water supply lands, farmland, forestland, habitat for rare species or important wildlife, lands for recreation; shorelands, scenic areas and viewshed, and wetlands and associated uplands.

PROJECT COmpletion Requirements

Guidance documents pertaining to project completion can be found in Documents and Forms.

Legal Document / Deed Language

Grant recipients will work collaboratively with LCHIP to develop conservation restrictions in the form of a conservation easement, deed restriction, or grant agreement. Project proponents should consider LCHIP requirements carefully to be sure all LCHIP requirements are met and sufficient time is allotted for LCHIP’s review and approval.

Project Documentation

At least four weeks prior to closing, grant recipients must submit Final Project Documentation, including the survey, appraisal, title work, environmental site assessment, final project budget, baseline documentation or current conditions reports, and other materials.

Grant Agreement

In accordance with NH RSA 227-M:17, LCHIP and the grant recipient must enter into a Grant Agreement at the time of project completion. The Grant Agreement describes the grant award, the project scope and structure, and the Grant Recipient’s ongoing obligations and must be recorded contemporaneously with the restrictive deed.

Reporting requirements

LCHIP requires that, for all acquisition projects, the Recipient provide perpetual oversight and stewardship of the property protected, which includes an obligation to monitor and inspect the property annually. Beginning in the calendar year following closing, a report of annual monitoring activity must be submitted to LCHIP annually no later than December 31.