Conservation Easement
What is it?
A voluntary, legal agreement between the landowner and land trust organization to protect certain aspects of the property. Conservation easements can have a wide variety of objectives including protecting wildlife, wildlife habitat, water resources, open spaces, or archeological sites. The landowner still maintains possession of the property and the land trust is responsible for monitoring compliance with the agreement and for the perpetual stewardship of the easement.
Conservation Benefits
- Protection of native species biodiversity
- Protection of species habitat
- Maintain watershed and riparian connectivity
- Prevent subdivision and development of property
Who is involved?
A conservation easement is created between the landowner and a land trust organization. Technical experts like biologists are often consulted to survey the property and assess the natural resources. Landowners should also consult their tax/financial and legal advisors for potential tax incentives associated with conservation easements.
What does it include?
Content and terms of agreement of the conservation easement is different for each property. Restrictions and management plans are agreed upon by the landowner and land trust.
Conservation Easement Links
- Conservation Easements by Texas Land Trust Council
- Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Conservation Easement Bibliography
- Protecting the Land: conservation easements past, present and future (2000) - book edited by J.A. Gustanski and R.H. Squires
- Kiesecker et al. 2007. Conservation easements in context: a quantitative analysis of their use by The Nature Conservancy. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 5: 125-130.
- Morrisette. 2001. Conservation easements and the public good: preserving the environment on private lands. Natural Resources Journal 41: 373-426.
- Parker. 2004. Land trusts and the choice to conserve land with full ownership or conservation easements. Natural Resources Journal 44: 483-518.