Habitat Monitoring

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a willing landowner and the Conservancy that protects a land's conservation value by permanently limiting its uses. Owners who create conservation easements often receive substantial tax benefits.  Conservation easements work well when landowners want to continue to own and manage their property, the easement becomes part of the property title in perpetuity and the Conservancy ensures, that current and future owners honor the terms of the easement. Under a conservation easement, the property can be sold, leased or kept in agricultural production and bequeathed to heirs. In many cases, the rights to subdivide and develop a property are limited or extinguished by a conservation easement.  The landowner continues to own the land that is subject to the conservation easement, while the Conservancy is responsible for monitoring the property to make sure its resources are being protected and that the terms of the easement are not being violated.

Conservation easements can be tailored to protect important wildlife habitat, scenic vistas, agricultural land, and a land's rural character, while also allowing the landowner to continue working the land. Generally, conservation easements do not allow public access to the property unless specifically permitted by the landowner.