Leaves land in private ownership. It allows you to continue to own and use your land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. When you donate a conservation easement to a land trust, you permanently give up some of the rights associated with the land. For example, you might give up the right to build additional residences, while retaining the right to grow crops. Future owners also will be bound by the easement's terms, and the land trust is responsible for making sure the easement's terms are followed.
Conservation easements are flexible land protection tools.
An easement on property containing rare wildlife habitat might prohibit any development, for example, while one on a farm might allow continued farming and the building of additional agricultural structures. An easement can allow appropriate development and even permit some commercial use of the land. In short, an easement must protect the land's conservation values, but it can also be fashioned to meet the financial and personal needs of the landowner. For income tax purposes, the value of the donation is the difference between the land's value with the easement and its value without the casement. Placing an easement on your property may also result in property tax savings.