The permanent protection of natural areas within sub-divisions or corporate boundaries. While holding easements does not entail ownership, liability, or maintenance responsibilities, it does grant control to a third party to prohibit further development or other changes that would be inconsistent with the preservation objectives stated in the easement.
A non-possessory interest in land which restricts the manner in which the land may be developed in an effort to reserve natural resources for future use.
A preservation tool that may be used by a land trust or conservation group to limit development.
Easements are an interest in land that entitles a person to use the land possessed by another (affirmative easement), or to restrict uses of the land subject to the easement (negative easement). A conservation easement restricts the owner to uses that are compatible with conservation environmental values. Easements are governed by state laws and thus there are variations among the states in how they are administered.
a practice used to apply and enforce restrictions to preserve natural resources. Typically, a landowner will grant very specific rights concerning a parcel of land to a qualified recipient (e.g. public agency or non profit land conservancy organization). The easement gives the recipient the right to enforce the restrictions. The recipient does not assume ownership but does assume long-term responsibility for enforcement and stewardship of the easement. For example, a wildlife management agency may obtain easements in forested floodplains from private landowners that help them manage wildlife and fish.
a contractual agreement between a landowner and a local government or other legal entity that limits or prohibits certain activities on the land
Conservation easements are voluntary, legally binding agreements for landowners that limit parcels of land or pieces of property to certain uses. Land under conservation easements remains privately owned, and most easements are permanent.
Legal agreements between landowners and conservation organizations or government agencies that restrict uses of the land and protect the land's special values.
Areas that allow for unrestricted movement of biota by connecting protected wildlife regions to each other. These corridors are usually established by joint agreement between landowners and state or federal agencies and may be temporary or perpetual.
