La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § I-318

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-318 - Natural Areas Dedication and Servitudes

A. Background. In 1987, by an Act of the Louisiana State Legislature (Acts 1987, No. 324, §1, effective July 6, 1987), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) was named as the state agency responsible for administering the Louisiana Natural Areas Registry. A subsequent state legislative Act established the Wildlife Habitat and Natural Heritage Trust to manage funds for the purpose of acquiring and properly managing natural areas in Louisiana (Acts 1988, No. 492, §1, effective July 9, 1988). The Louisiana Natural Areas Registry provides official state recognition of natural heritage values on land parcels where they occur. A voluntary registration agreement adds a measure of protection, and servitudes or dedication of a Natural Areas Preserve provides secure protection.

B. Purpose. The primary purpose of dedicated nature preserves and conservation servitudes is to permanently protect high quality examples of Louisiana's natural heritage through land acquisition or perpetual easements by LDWF. To "dedicate" a property is defined as the transfer to LDWF of property rights in any natural area to be held for the citizens of Louisiana to protect the natural heritage values of the property.

C. Objectives. The primary objective of the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) is to assure that each species of conservation concern and each natural community type tracked by LNHP is adequately represented at securely protected sites. This can be accomplished by dedication of the property or through conservation servitudes that duly protect the property.

D. General Guidelines

1. A request for a dedication or servitude may be initiated by any party (LDWF, other state or federal agency, landowner, non-government organization, or other interested parties), and must be submitted to LNHP in writing and must include a justification, general information on the property and specific location and boundary map.

2. LNHP will review initial requests, and determine if proposed sites are eligible for dedication or servitude. LNHP will recommend only those properties that support rare plant or animal species, or an exemplary natural community type(s).

E. Specific Requirements

1. To begin the dedication or servitude process, a site is first evaluated by means of a comprehensive field survey(s) conducted by LNHP. These baseline results should include a general description of the natural communities present on the site specifying size (in acres or hectares), condition, plant species composition, and community structure. Other site data should include topography, soils, rare plant and animal species present, any disturbances to the site (anthropogenic or natural), current management, and status of the landscape surrounding the site. Evaluations that depend on seasonal opportunities for study (i.e., determination of the presence or absence of a particular species that is only evident during certain seasons of the year or within a limited time frame) may extend the survey period. A general description of the site boundaries, photographs of key areas within the property, management considerations and assessment factors mentioned above, are all documented in the survey.

2. LDWF shall accept only those areas determined to be high quality for dedication or servitudes. LDWF's determination will take into consideration information from the site survey, biodiversity of the site, numbers and quality of rare species and/or natural communities, whether the species and natural communities present are protected elsewhere within the state, previous land-use and its impacts to the site, any invasive species present and any other relevant biological or management factors.

3. LDWF shall not accept any portion of a property for natural areas dedication or servitude that currently has pine plantations with off-site timber, homesites, extensive livestock grazing, agricultural farms, or industrial or commercial uses unless LDWF determines that the site can be reclaimed and restored to natural conditions.

4. A Natural Areas Preserve Committee within LDWF composed of staff from the Office of Wildlife, and such other staff as is appropriate will review all pertinent information to make a determination of whether the site qualifies for natural areas dedication or servitude.

5. If the committee finds that dedication of the area as a Natural Areas Preserve or servitude to be appropriate and feasible, then the landowners of the proposed dedicated nature preserve/servitude and the LDWF Natural Areas Preserve Committee will work together to formulate the deed of dedication. The landowner is responsible for the land survey to determine the property appraisal, and agrees to subordinate any mortgages or deeds of trust affecting the property. The dedication or servitude agreement will contain a legal description of the boundaries of the site, specify the natural heritage values the agreement is designed to protect, and detail any financial provisions and any other considerations as needed. Additional documents may accompany the dedication or servitude agreement as required to meet the needs of the agency or other parties.

6. The landowner(s) who is transferring ownership or donating a servitude to LDWF is responsible for obtaining professional advice as they so desire.

7. LDWF shall notify adjacent landowners in writing of the dedicated preserve or servitude and measures to protect it, at a minimum through publication in the official parish journal(s) of the parish(es) in which the property is located. LDWF is also responsible for any associated costs of this notification.

8. LDWF shall monitor each natural areas dedicated preserve and servitude annually to assess its condition and ensure that there have been no violations of the agreement. The monitor shall inspect the preserve/servitude, documenting current conditions, and identifying and documenting any violations of the agreement.

9. A management plan shall be developed by LNHP for each dedication and servitude that includes a property description (location, geology, physiography, hydrology, and soils), biological conditions, land use history and current conditions (hydrology, natural communities, logging, invasive and off-site species, trespassing), management objectives, and the management activities with specific natural community and species management related actions. The plan should delineate a detailed management scheme with the primary purpose to guide maintenance and/or restoration of native species and natural communities while integrating appropriate human use without compromising ecological integrity.

10. The Natural Areas Preserve Committee shall review and approve the management plan and any amendments. Amendments to the original servitude agreement or preserve management plan may be accepted by the committee only if the amendments will not negatively impact the overall natural heritage values present on the property.

11. Dedicated preserve/servitude signs shall be posted at each entrance and along its boundary at or near 100-yard intervals.

12. The LDWF Natural Areas Preserve Committee shall review each dedicated preserve and servitude management plan every 5 years to ensure adequate protection and/or restoration efforts are being followed.

13. Penalties and enforcement. LDWF will arrange meetings with the servitude owner and/or adjacent landowners as necessary to discuss any violations of the preserve or servitude agreement. Reparation by the violator shall be documented, course of action agreed on, deadline for compliance determined, all parties informed of required restoration action and compliance deadline, and any restoration work is inspected and documented.

14. Servitudes may be transferred to another qualified organization or agency if LDWF is no longer able to meet its servitude stewardship responsibilities.

F. Additional Information. For more information on Natural Areas Dedication and Conservation Servitudes, contact the following office:

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Louisiana Natural Heritage Program

P.O. Box 98000

Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § I-318

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 35:501 (March 2009).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:1869.