How strong can the terms of the easement be?
The conservation easement can be specific as the willing landowner, state lead agency, and the Forest Service agree to. It is to everyones benefit to clearly define, in as much detail as warranted, the terms of the conservation easement. One of the goals of the Forest Legacy program is to ensure that traditional forest uses are protected and maintained. One traditional use in many areas is public access. Public access is one interest that may be sold by a willing landowner. If public access is acquired, the conservation easement will describe what rights of access the public will have, and, if appropriate, what constraints will be places on public access by either the landowner and/or the state agency responsible for managing those interests.
