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<br /> <br /> <br />Page 10 of 21 <br />All farming operations shall be in accordance with Best Management Practices of the <br />State of North Carolina and applicable federal, state, and local laws under a “Conservation Plan” <br />a copy of which shall be provided to Grantee. The Conservation Plan shall be developed using <br />the standards and specifications of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Field <br />Office Technical Guide and 7 CFR Part 12 or equivalent standards developed by the appropriate <br />federal, state or local conservation entity if these standards are no longer the standards used by <br />the industry. The Grantor may develop and implement a Conservation Plan that proposes a <br />higher level of conservation and that is consistent with the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide <br />standards and specifications or other such standards and specifications as developed by the <br />appropriate governmental authority. The Conservation Plan shall be designed to protect soil <br />stability, water quality and other conservation values of the Property on all agricultural lands. <br />This Conservation Plan shall be reviewed and updated periodically <br /> <br />In the event of noncompliance with the Conservation Plan, Orange County shall work <br />with Grantor to explore methods of compliance and give Grantor a reasonable amount of time, <br />not to exceed twelve months, to take corrective action. If Grantor do es not comply with the <br />Conservation Plan, Orange County will inform the Grantor’s of non-compliance. Grantee shall <br />take all reasonable steps (including efforts at securing voluntary compliance and, if necessary, <br />appropriate legal action) to secure compliance with the Conservation Plan following written <br />notification from Orange County staff that (a) there is a substantial, ongoing event or <br />circumstance of non-compliance with the Conservation Plan, (b) Orange County staff has <br />worked with Grantor to correct such noncompliance, and (c) Grantor has exhausted their appeal <br />rights under applicable NRCS regulations. <br /> <br />10. Forest Management <br /> <br />Trees may be removed, cut and otherwise managed only to control insects and disease, to <br />prevent personal injury and property damage, to remove non-native invasive species, for <br />firewood and other non-commercial uses, including construction of permitted improvements and <br />fences on the Property, and for substrates for cultivating food (e.g., shiitake mushrooms, <br />hügelkultur-grown crops) so long as done in accordance with the Conservation Plan referenced <br />in Paragraph 9 of this Conservation Easement and in accordance with a forest stewardship plan <br />prepared by a licensed forester with stewardship expertise that is consistent with the above <br />referenced Conservation Plan and that is approved by Grantee, which approval shall not be <br />unreasonably withheld. <br /> <br />Trees may be planted, harvested and removed within the area identified and marked as <br />"Farmstead Area" on Exhibit A without the advance written permission of the Grantee, so long <br />as done in accordance with the Conservation Plan and forest management plan referred to in this <br />Paragraph 10. <br /> <br />Woodland-based cultivation and harvesting (“forest gardening”) to support the <br />agricultural operation is permitted on the Property, including in the Forest Area mapped in <br />Exhibit A. Examples include but are not limited to planting woodland medicinals (e.g., ginseng) <br />and edibles (e.g., leeks) and cultivating mushrooms on logs. <br /> <br />Docusign Envelope ID: F68C289B-897D-4E9C-8B77-C5477012992E