A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. Landowners retain many of their rights, including the right to own and use the land, sell it, and pass it on to their heirs (Source: Land Trust Alliance). The easement may also specifically protect natural, scenic, or historic features of the property (Source: Piedmont Environmental Council). Conservation easements can be a valuable tool for scenic resources preservation.
Benefits
Economic: Tax Benefits
In the state of Virginia, there are property tax benefits and state and federal income tax benefits for donating a conservation easement. For more information, check out
Environmental
A 2017 study at Colorado State University found that conservation easements in Colorado conserved nearly 1.5 million acres of crucial habitat, conserved almost 300,000 acres of prime farmland, and 4,100 miles of stream, creek, or river frontage. The study estimates that residents of the state have received an estimated $5.5-$13.7 billion of economic benefits from the land conserved through conservation easements.
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