A conservation easement is a tool that allows land
owners to protect their land from development while maintaining ownership
and control over the land. It legally guides the future uses of the
property regardless of who owns the land.
Often families are forced to sell their small farms to developers because
they need the money or can no longer maintain the land. The offers of
developers are often very enticing. Easements allow a landowner to keep
his or her property and protect it from being developed in the future.
Because the land can no longer be developed once it is in an easement,
the property taxes are reduced and the value to potential developers
is eliminated.
