WHAT ARE THE FARMERS RIGHTS AFTER SELLING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT?
The right to develop or prevent development is only one of many rights in a property owners bundle of rights. Some of the rights include the right to sell, lease, mortgage, leave to heirs, mineral rights, air rights and surface rights. After selling the conservation easement, the owner retains all of the other rights and responsibilities that go along with property ownership. Selling conservation easements would not prevent constructing buildings used for agricultural production, including a structure for housing seasonal or full-time workers. Customary part-time or off-seasonal rural enterprises may not be affected. In addition, coal, oil, and gas exploration as well as the granting of rights-of-way for utilities or transporting coal, oil, and gas would be unaffected by easement sale.
