Forest legacy protection involves the sale of a perpetual conservation easement for the development rights on forest tract. It is the ultimate protection strategy and locks in the future use of the forest by means of a deed restriction. Landowners should seriously consider the legal, tax, and estate ramification of a conservation easement prior to applying for Forest Legacy protection. It allows you to continue to own and use your land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. When you donate or sell a conservation easement, you give up some of the rights associated with the land.
Conservation easements offer great flexibility.
An easement may apply to just a portion of the property, and need not require public access. The amount of the donation is the difference between the land's value with the easement and its value without the easement. Placing an easement on your property may also result in property tax savings. Perhaps most important, a conservation easement can be essential for passing land on to the next generation. By removing the land's development potential, the easement lowers its market value, which in turn lowers estate tax.