We have updated our database to increase security and make communications more reliable.

You only need one password now! Your Land Trust Alliance password for accessing The Learning Center or signing up for Rally works for Terrafirma as well.

If you enter your e-mail address for an existing Terrafirma account, it will e-mail you your password, and if you do not yet have a Terrafirma login, it will prompt you to create one at: https://terrafirma.org/site/get_started

If you cannot log in, please contact us at and we’ll help you get set up.

You might need approval from site administrators for security purposes – so please don’t wait until the last minute!

Once you are in your account, please remember to notify Terrafirma about any potential issues that were discovered during the 2017 policy period which remain unresolved.

Thanks!
Hannah

Hannah Flake
Conservation Defense Coordinator 
(202) 800-2248  | 
 

P.S. Wondering what you can do for the Risk Management Discount?

• The next webinar will be on January 23 – see the full list here

It’s the first day of winter. This means two great things: 1) more sunlight in the days ahead and 2) Terrafirma applications are open for the 2018 policy year!

Head on down to www.terrafirma.org and check off your list - it’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1.            Reconfirm your eligibility

2.            Add any new parcels and remove any assigned parcels

3.            Click the “submit” button and mail your check (payable to Terrafirma RRG)

Once you update, the 2018 coverage period continues uninterrupted from the original policy date. You have until February 2, 2018 to submit your 2018 application.

We endeavor to be as green as a Christmas tree, meaning everything is online; Terrafirma does not send paper invoices, applications, or policies. 

Having trouble logging in?

We have updated our database! Now whatever you put for your Land Trust Alliance password (the one you use when accessing The Learning Center or signing up for Rally) will work for Terrafirma as well.

If your previous Terrafirma password was different, you should now be able to enter the Alliance password to log in.

If you enter your e-mail address here for an existing Terrafirma account, it will e-mail you your password: https://terrafirma.org/site/get_started

Lastly, please remember to notify Terrafirma about any potential issues that were discovered during the 2017 policy period.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

Hannah

Smart land trusts typically purchase multiple types of insurance coverage and will consider how the various insurance coverages fit together when selecting the right coverage package. Terrafirma fills in many of the gaps in coverage for these other insurance products.

• General liability insurance is required in order to be eligible for Terrafirma coverage. It covers claims alleging bodily injury or property damage.
• Directors and officers (D&O) insurance covers claims alleging wrongful management decisions by the land trust board, volunteers and staff. Unpaid directors of land trusts may have some coverage available under their individual homeowners or personal liability umbrella policies but these do not offer any defense for the land trust where the board member volunteers.
• Title insurance can compensate the land trust if the actual title to (ownership of) the conservation easement or land they own is challenged or if there is a dispute about the legal description of the property, provided that it is not excluded by the survey exception.

For more on different types of insurance, head to the Learning Center for Guide to Risk Management for Land Trusts, starting on page 275, as well as Practical Pointers: Assessing Insurance Needs for Land Trusts. And for those attending Rally in Denver this October, check out the workshop B02: Do You Have the Right Insurance? At the Right Price? Details here.

Have questions? Please let us know. You can email us directly or call 202-800-2219 for Lorri, 202-800-2248 for myself or 802-262-6051 for Leslie.

Thanks,
Hannah

Conservation Defense Associate
(202) 800-2248  | 
Connect with us on LinkedIn

How should your land trust respond to a condemnation threat? While such issues are excluded from Terrafirma coverage, that doesn't mean there is nothing you can do. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but there are many opportunities early in the condemnation process to anticipate, divert and minimize damage to conservation values.

Generally, land trusts should:

• discuss the threat with experienced legal counsel,
• involve the appropriate outside parties, and
• engage with and educate the condemning authority.

See more advice and resources on the Land Trust Alliance's Practical Pointer on Condemnation, available via The Learning Center.

Have questions? Please let us know. You can e-mail us directly or call 202-800-2219 for Lorri or 202-800-2248 for myself.

When your stewardship staff or volunteers conduct their annual monitoring visits, they probably ask the landowners questions before the visit, or fill out answers while they’re onsite. But are they asking the important questions that will help you to determine if there could be a division of property resulting in a violation of the conservation easement, or other threat to it?

Words like “subdivide” can be confusing to people who aren't familiar with technical legal terms. So here are some simpler ways to phrase the question:

• “Have you signed anything or agreed to any division of your land, even a tiny piece of it and even if you didn’t get paid?”
• “Have you agreed to give rights of any kind to anyone else over your land?”

Asking this can help you to be sure that you’re on top of any potential legal issues that may be brewing.

Have questions? Please let us know. You can email us directly or call 202-800-2219 for Lorri or 202-800-2248 for myself. Leslie will be out on sabbatical through September 11.

Thanks,
Hannah

P.S. Planning your 2018 budget? Terrafirma will have its first ever slight price increase of $3 per parcel starting with the 2018 policy - see more information here.

Terrafirma has helped land trusts like yours defend their conservation portfolios since March 2013, increasing services along the way. After almost five years of operation, 71 land trusts have used insurance coverage to address serious conservation challenges, and all Terrafirma members have enjoyed fixed premium prices. Terrafirma continues to be sound and stable. To remain so, though, rates must go up slightly in 2018.

Your elected representatives from across the county serving on the Terrafirma Members Committee, after months of deliberation and investigation, approved a modest, $3-per-parcel increase to the base premium for 2018. For more information about this process, please visit www.terrafirma.org/premium.

Terrafirma will continue to make every effort to keep future increases as low and as infrequent as possible. Currently, no other increases are planned. In the meantime, we’re here to help! Please let us know if you have any questions. You can email us directly or call 202-800-2219 for Lorri, 202-800-2248 for myself or 802-262-6051 for Leslie.

When should you consult an attorney on a problem you’re experiencing with a land owner? Some wait until a lawsuit is already underway or seems inevitable because of reluctance to involve lawyers. They don’t want to seem aggressive, or compromise a collaborative violation resolution.

However, earlier outside legal perspective can help you get the tone just right when resolving a dispute: not too nice and not too harsh. It can also help you avoid simple mistakes that can become serious obstacles later. Read “When to Turn off the Nice Switch” [note: this has since been updated to "Knowing When to Shift Gears"] to learn more, and find a perfect balance.

Have questions? Please let us know. You can email us directly or call 202-800-2219 for Lorri, 202-800-2248 for myself or 802-262-6051 for Leslie.

Thanks,
Hannah