North Branch Land Trust conserves 94 acres in Columbia County – Technologist

Press release shared by North Branch Land Trust, September 13, 2024. Photos courtesy of the land trust.

Northeastern Pennsylvania conservation nonprofit North Branch Land Trust has finalized the conservation of the late Robert L. Carson’s fields and forests with the help of the Carson Estate.

The property, now permanently conserved under easement, totals 94 acres, most of which is undeveloped open space in Columbia County. A conservation easement conserves land in the public interest, but the land stays in the possession and control of the private landowner. This process aims to maintain the high-quality woodland canopy with multi-tiered understory of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses, as well as prime agricultural soils for generations to come.

“It is with a sense of gratitude that we were able to work with the Carson Estate and Attorney Marshall to meet the conservation wishes of Bob Carson.” Says Ellen Ferretti, North Branch Land Trust Executive Director. “Bob had been in touch with North Branch Land Trust for a very long time. In our file are so many notes from him with photos of wildlife and this land he so deeply loved. Bob is an inspirational example of what we see so often in land conservation. There is a connection with the land and water based on something personal, and its different for every landowner. We work with landowners to conserve what they hold dear, and we are so very pleased to have achieved this with the Carson Estate.”

The benefits of private conservation are not just limited to those who currently live there. Conserving these lands will protect the quality of Mt. Pleasant Township’s water resources and improve habitat for Pennsylvania native plants, birds, and other wildlife.

When Professor Robert L. “Bob” Carson of Bloomsburg, passed away in 2022, his estate partnered with North Branch Land Trust to carry out the conservation wishes of his will.

From Mr. Carson’s obituary, “Mr. Carson was very fond of the care of domestic animals and wildlife, especially at his farm on Oman Road. Bob was happiest when watching the deer, turkey and other wildlife roaming in the fields and was always grateful for the legacy “Grandpa” Townsend had left him. He wanted the land preserved for many generations to come instead of being sold off for mercenary gain.”

Because there are a variety of means to provide generational conservation benefits, North Branch Land Trust worked side by side with the Carson Estate to determine which avenues would best honor the wishes set forth in his will.

“NBLT made it possible to meet Mr. Carson’s goals of preserving and protecting land that had been in his family for generations,” says Marissa B. Marshall, Esq. representative for the Carson Estate. “There were hurdles with accomplishing Mr. Carson’s goals due to issues with the way his Will was written and the attorney who prepared the Will retired and moved out of state prior to Mr. Carson’s passing.  I strongly encourage attorneys and any other advisors assisting clients with their estate planning goals of preserving land to speak with NBLT prior to drafting any estate planning documents.  Ellen Ferretti and Emma Thompson were instrumental in getting this easement established and on behalf of the Estate of Robert Carson, thank you for your guidance, assistance and patience.”

North Branch Land Trust partners with landowners, communities, and stakeholders to conserve and care for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s lands and waters. North Branch Land Trust is a registered nonprofit conserving land in an eight-county region of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Bradford, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Wayne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Columbia) in the Susquehanna and Upper Lehigh Watersheds.

Media Contact: Karley Stasko, Director of Marketing and Development, [email protected].