The Clinic was made up of nine law students.
Clients included: Land trusts and county agencies.
Projects: Students worked on a variety of projects for their agency and nonprofit clients, including:
- An analysis of other states’ conservation tax credit programs and recommendations for Georgia’s.
- Georgia’s conservation tax credit program is up for renewal in 2026, which offers supporters an opportunity to expand its impact.
- Creation of a Heritage Tree conservation easement template.
- This template was developed for Cherokee County, but other counties and the Georgia Forestry Commission are also interested in learning about this tool for protecting significant trees.
- Assembling initial material needed for an FAQ on condemnation for land trusts.
- Condemnation is affecting more conserved property as Georgia experiences more development. This FAQ will form the basis of a more in-depth white paper that will inform land trusts and agencies across the state about the special considerations involved when conserved land is condemned.
- An analysis of Transferrable Development Rights (TDR) programs that protect environmentally sensitive land with recommendations for best practices.
- TDR programs can be used by local governments to protect priority conservation areas while encouraging development in more appropriate areas.
- Creation of three template CEs for conservation organization that will begin holding CEs as it works to protect farmland in its county.
Special thanks to the following conservation experts, who graciously shared their knowledge and experience with the class: Shane Wallendorf, Tall Timbers Conservancy; Christine Watts, Madison Morgan Conservancy; Mallory O’Steen, American Farmland Trust.