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28 <br /> DRAFT/March 28,2025 <br /> • Priority Action 3a: Increase the funds available for County purchase of Lands <br /> Legacy Program conservation easements. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Source of funding agreed Funding required <br /> • Funding secured <br /> • Increase in annual number of <br /> agricultural working lands <br /> easements granted <br /> • Priority Action 3b: Identify and implement new/additional frameworks for <br /> County collaboration with non-County conservation organizations (e.g., <br /> Triangle Land Conservancy, Eno River Foundation) to secure easements. <br /> Explore the possibility of reactivating the Orange County Conservation <br /> Alliance, which provided a forum for collaboration to develop joint projects <br /> or partnerships. <br /> BENCHMARK/PROGRESS INDICATORS FUNDING/RESOURCES <br /> • Increase in annual number of Funding required <br /> collaborative agricultural working <br /> lands easements granted <br /> • Orange County Conservation <br /> Alliance reactivated <br /> Recommendation 4: Use the VAD/EVAD (Voluntary Agricultural <br /> District/Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District) program as a steppingstone to <br /> permanent Lands Legacy Program conservation easements. <br /> Farmers/landowners enrolled in the VAD/EVAD program have made a <br /> voluntary, nonbinding commitment to keep their land in farming and out of <br /> development for a period of at least 10 years. Respondents to a 2022 Orange <br /> County VAD/EVAD Farmer and Landowner Survey expressed interest in <br /> permanent protection of their land through a conservation easement, but to <br /> date, few VAD/EVAD farmers/landowners have conservation easements in <br /> place. Having demonstrated commitment to protecting their farmland, <br /> VAD/EVAD farmers are particularly good candidates for easement-related <br /> outreach and education. Priority Actions 4a through 4c are intended to <br /> educate County farmers/landowners about conservation options and to reward <br /> and incentivize VAD/EVAD farmers/landowners seeking to learn about and/or <br /> pursue permanent conservation easements. <br /> 26 <br />