Conservation easements allow for the continuation of a wide variety of land uses including recreation, forestry and agricultural activities. The land trust is the holder of the easement and once the terms are agreed to by the land trust and the landowner, MVLT assumes a perpetual obligation to monitor the property each year to check for violations. Conservation easements are a wonderful conservation tool that keeps land in private ownership while still protecting its resources for the future.

Donating a Conservation Easement

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. Easements are most often donated to the trust but can also be purchased from landowners in some cases. They are increasing in popularity as a conservation tool, especially as they serve the needs of the landowners while simultaneously protecting important conservation values and helping to maintain a rural way of life.