A number of creative legal and policy tools have emerged in response to the complexity surrounding land uses, the property rights associated with land ownership, and the uncertainties about future changes in land uses and regulations. One tool is the conservation easement. An easement is a legal contract in which a landowner gives up one or more of her property rights to a person, organization, or government. Typically, a conservation easement involves giving up the right to develop land in order to protect a resource, such as a forest, wetland, historic site, or open space. These kinds of arrangements help reduce uncertainty about future land uses and can help governments and conservation groups take steps to reduce fragmentation of ecosystems and open spaces. Often, because the conservation objective is very long term, whereas some landowners' interests in using land may be only for their lifetime, conservation easements or gifts to land trusts are often made as bequests.

References and Links:
Landtrust: Conservation Easements   Offers information about various characteristics of conservation easements.

The Pacific Forest Trust: Conservation Easements FAQs   Provides many frequently asked questions regarding conservation easements.

The Nature Conservancy: Conservation Easements   The Nature Conservancy is an organization dedicated to preserving natural space. Conservation easements are a primary tool they use to do so. This page provides rich amounts of information on conservation easements and how they work.

Uniform Conservation Easement Act and Summary of the Act   The text of the 1981 act drafted by the National Conference for Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and recommended for approval in all states. A summary is also provided.