A nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to preservation of the rural character of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Protecting family lands from future development can be a rewarding act for people who are dedicated to preserving the natural splendor of our environment. Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance helps landowners preserve their family lands through donations, deed restrictions, bargain sales, purchase, limited development, conservation subdivisions, and conservation easements. In our experience, there is no one conservation tool that is most effective but the easement is probably most often used because it allows landowners to achieve their conservation goals while maintaining ownership and a high degree of control over their property. Many landowners feel attachments to their land yet are unaware of methods to preserve it.
Awareness is the key.
Trust staff is available to discuss with you how any of these tools might also help you attain your conservation goals. An easement is a legal agreement between a property owner and some other entity e.g. a foundation, organization, local government, or some other group dedicated to maintaining that agreement. A conservation easement is a permanent restraint agreed to between the two parties whereby the deed to the property is perpetually restricted towards the goal of preservation. It legally binds all present and future owners of the property and is recorded in the Register of Deeds. It does not necessarily prevent all further development of the property but does restrict it to some degree.