The Land – Conservation Easements

admin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:39:15 +0000

In use for over 100 years, conservation easements—sometimes called private land protection agreements—
are legal agreements private landowners can use to protect their open, natural lands in perpetuity. Legally
binding, conservation easements permanently retire certain development rights of a property, as agreed upon
by the property owner and a land trust. Each conservation easement is unique in that it restricts and protects
specific values that the owner wishes to conserve on their particular piece of property. These conservation
values may be agricultural, scenic, historic, ecological, or recreational. The land trust holds the easement in
perpetuity, taking on the responsibility of ensuring that the terms of the easement are met, regardless of who
owns the property in future.

The Land (top level test post)

admin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:37:23 +0000

Property owners most often grant voluntary land protection agreements, also known as conservation easements, because of their compassion for their land. They wish to permanently preserve those special places or the open space they value and enjoy. The property may have been held by the family for several generations when the current owner decides to ensure its availability for future generations, or a new landowner may simply wish to protect the attributes that drew them to the land in the first place. Often, land donors are committed to helping preserve the special character of their community, or to protecting unique ecological or archeological assets on their land. In other cases, the agreement may be part of a landowner’s overall tax and estate planning where the focus is reducing the tax burden. In any case, potential conservation agreement granters should involve their attorney, tax adviser, or other professionals for advice.

Santa Fe Conservation Trust

The Land – Conservation Easements

The Land (top level test post)