FIVE VALLEYS LAND TRUST

THE ORGANIZATION PROTECTS RIVER CORRIDORS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND COMMUNITY OPEN SPACES USING FEE ACQUISITIONS, VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, AND OTHER REAL PROPERTY INTERESTS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE ON PRIVATE LANDS AND PARTNERS WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO PROTECT OR CREATE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE. CONSERVATION EASEMENT GRANTORS ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH THE ORGANIZATION VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWING THEIR LAND HOLDS SPECIAL VALUE TO THEM AND TO THE PUBLIC. CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE ORGANIZATION HOLD NO FINANCIAL VALUE AND ARE A NON-POSSESSORY INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY, SO THE LANDOWNER RETAINS OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND. THE COSTS TO ACQUIRE PURCHASED OR DONATED EASEMENTS IS EXPENSED AS INCURRED. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT REPRESENT THE DIMINUTION IN VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THE GRANT OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT RESULTING FROM THE RESTRICTIONS THAT THE EASEMENT IMPOSES ON THE USE OF THE LAND. THE ORGANIZATION ONLY RECOGNIZES IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS WAY IF THERE IS AN APPRAISAL TO INFORM THE VALUE. THE VALUE OF IN-KIND CONSERVATION EASEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023, WAS $0.DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED ONE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECT. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED ONE EASEMENT PROJECT. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A TOTAL OF 198 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING A COMBINED 83,397 ACRES OF LAND. AT DECEMBER 31, 2023, THE ORGANIZATION HELD A TOTAL OF 197 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING A COMBINED 83,219 ACRES OF LAND. ADDITIONALLY IN THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION ACCEPTED A GIFT OF REAL PROPERTY IN FEE NEAR LINCOLN, MT. THE GIFT WAS ACCEPTED WITH THE INTENTION TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY WITH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT BEFORE DISPOSITION.SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO CONVERT PRIVATELY HELD LANDS INTO PUBLIC LANDS OVER SEVERAL AREAS IN WESTERN MONTANA. EXAMPLES OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE ALBERTON GORGE, HIAWATHA ROUTE, MOUNT JUMBO, MOUNT SENTINEL, MOUNT DEAN STONE, AND THE RATTLESNAKE GREENWAY. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, THE ORGANIZATION SOLD AND TRANSFERRED APPROXIMATELY 160 ACRES ON MARSHALL MOUNTAIN TO MISSOULA COUNTY.LAND STEWARDSHIPTHE ORGANIZATION'S STEWARDSHIP STAFF WORKS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATEPARTNERS TO IMPROVE PROTECTED LANDS FOR THEIR CONSERVATION PURPOSE. THE ORGANIZATION ENLISTS A BROAD GROUP OF PARTNERS TO COMPLETE THIS WORK INCLUDING STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CONTRACTORS.THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED WEED TREATMENT, HABITAT RESTORATION, FUELSREDUCTION, ACCESS DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER SIMILAR ACTIVITIES ON THE MOUNT DEAN STONE, ROCK CREEK CONFLUENCE, AND OTHER PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE AREA. PERPETUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS COMMIT THE ORGANIZATION TO A LONG-TERM RESPONSIBILITY OF STEWARDING THE PROTECTED CONSERVATION VALUES OF THE CONSERVED PROPERTIES FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND SUPPORTING LANDOWNERS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MANAGE THEIR LAND WITH CONSERVATION IN MIND. STEWARDSHIP WORK INVOLVES MONITORING CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES, ENSURING CONSERVATION EASEMENT TERMS ARE UPHELD, AND VISITING WITH LANDOWNERS ANNUALLY TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS AND WORKING TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR MANAGEMENT GOALS IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE TEMRS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT. TO FUND THESE CURRENT AND FUTURE CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ESTABLISHED A STEWARDSHIP AND LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WITH A BALANCE OF $1,487,238 AND $1,346,343 AT DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023, RESPECTIVELY, THAT IS PRESENTED WITHIN INVESTMENTS ON THE STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION. THE ORGANIZATION PRIDES ITSELF IN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH LANDOWNERS AND OTHER PARTNERS TO BRING RESOURCES AND SOUND SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX LAND MANAGEMENT ISSUES. IN 2024 AND 2023, THE ORGANIZATION MONITORED EACH OF ITS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.