Opportunities for Landowners One of the most important roles of a land trust is to work with landowners concerned about protecting their land and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. Land trusts provide advice on protection strategies that best meet the landowner's conservation and financial needs. Before deciding which option best suits your land protection interests, it is important to talk with your own legal and financial advisors. Here are some of the ideas you might want to discuss with them. Conservation Easements A Conservation Easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently protects land by limiting present and future uses.
Easements are one of the most flexible conservation tools.
The easement agreement is designed to make certain that the protection of the land is compatible with the financial and personal needs of the landowner. Donated conservation easements that meet federal tax code requirements can provide significant tax advantages to the landowners. Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust holds a conservation easement on 60 acres of woods and wetland on the shore of Vesey Lake. Land trusts are among several non-profit land conservation organizations granted conservation easements by landowners who have a love of the land and an interest in protecting it in perpetuity. Common questions about conservation easements are answered on a separate page in this packet.