Toxic Torts White Collar Crime Conservation easements. A conservation easement is a private land use restriction entered into voluntarily for the purpose of preserving open space, important environmental resources and significant historic, scenic or architectural conditions. Forty-four states, including New York, have conversation easement statutes.
Landowners use the easements to protect valuable lands and resources.
There are 80 land trusts in New York. There are many benefits to using conservation easements. For governments, it can be a cost-effective way of promoting desired preservation and protection of resources. For individual landowners, it can result in estate tax benefits, income tax deductions and property tax assessment benefits.