What is a Conservation Easement?
A conservation easement is a legal agreement, written in the form of a deed, which allows landowners to permanently protect their land. The landowner extinguishes the majority, or entirety, of the property’s non-agricultural or forestry development rights through the conveyance of a conservation easement to a qualified nonprofit land trust, such as CLC, or to a governmental entity.
A conservation easement is a permanent restriction on some land uses, typically development and subdivision of a property. CCALT easements allow for and encourage traditional uses such as farming, ranching, hunting and fishing. Each easement is written specifically for each property and each landowner. An easement can provide flexibility in terms of reserved rights. An easement restricts development to the degree that is necessary to protect the significant conservation values of that particular property. Sometimes this totally prohibits new homes and/or divisions, and sometimes it doesn’t. Landowners and land trusts, working together, can write conservation easements within federal and state guidelines that reflect both the landowner’s desires and the need to protect conservation values.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement to preserve land in its natural state or to enhance its environmental potential without transferring the land’s ownership. The landowner still owns the land, but agrees not to develop it inconsistently with environmental preservation requirements. The specific terms of the easement can be tailored to fit the needs of both the landowner and the community. The Conservancy Board would manage the easement on behalf of the City in accordance with the terms agreed upon.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. It allows you to continue to own and use your land consistent with the conditions of the easement and to sell it or pass it on to your heirs. Conservation easements offer great flexibility. For example, an easement on property containing rare wildlife habitat might prohibit any development, while an easement on a farm might allow continued farming and the building of additional agricultural structures. An easement may apply to just a portion of the property, and need not require public access.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust, such as Blue Mountain Land Trust, or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. The land remains in private ownership. The landowner continues to use the land and may sell it or pass it on to heirs. Typically, the landowner chooses to restrict the amount of future development of the land in order to preserve it for scenic open space, wildlife habitat, or agricultural production. The permanent protections run with the land and remain in place even after the easement donor has given or sold the land to others.
