By Linda Martin

Claremore Daily Progress

Landowners who want to preserve or protect their land from the urban sprawl gobbling up Rogers County have an option that's preferable to say Ñ plotting against land developers.

Land Legacy, is a nonprofit land conservation organization that took root in Tulsa in January 2003.

As the only statewide land trust in Oklahoma, its purpose is to conserve and enhance rural and urban lands for a positive impact on the quality of life for years to come, said Robert Gregory, Land Legacy's executive director.

It basically guarantees that all open spaces won't fall victim to development Ñ that some open spaces will remain open, he said.

The organization's work falls in two categories Ñ urban which provides public trails, green belts to slow the urban sprawl that's going in all directions and pocket parks within communities.

In rural areas if a farmer or rancher wants their land to remain in tact and undeveloped they can donate a conservation easement to the trust which ensures that land will be preserved permanently, Gregory said.

An example is the state's first conservation easement Ñ the 1,000 acre Wyckoff/Lloyd Ranch in Pershing in Osage County.

Land Legacy holds an 800-acre easement that ensures the ranch land will remain untouched by development.

A land owner can convey or donate a deed to right of property which will ensure the land remains open space, but does not interfere with the property owner's use of the land, he said.

Donated easements are tax deductible at the property's appraised value, Gregory said.

The organization's work also includes urban parks and trails and water quality protection, he said.

The organization is currently working with the Tulsa Development Authority to create a series of parks in downtown Tulsa. One has been completed in Tulsa's historic Brady District, he said.

The goal is "to preserve land (for the future) that's really going to impact peoples quality of life," Gregory said.

The organization works with landowners as well as partners with agencies to find the best way to conserve land in any particular situation.

Currently Oklahoma "is losing 30,000 acres a year to non-agricultural purposes," Gregory said.

"The rate of conversion is advancing and it's our best soil that we're losing," he said.

The message?

"Build your houses and shopping centers but lets make sure some of the best natural areas we save."

Houses or developments don't need to be built on prime soil, Gregory said.

If they do then developers involving a conservation organization like Land Legacy in the planning stages ensures the developer and conservation come out ahead, he said.

Gregory noted a Sand Springs development project involving local developer Lindsay Perkins. Perkins contacted Land Legacy in the planning stages of the upscale development to help preserve the natural beauty of the land for future homeowners to enjoy.

Meanwhile, in other open areas what's happening is large blocks of land are being converted into five and 10 acre tracts or a very low density area, Gregory said.

While it's the slice of life many seek it's also "the most wasteful use of the land," he said.