Property owners have worked with land trusts to protect ranches, ocean shores, wetlands, scenic views, farms, wildlife habitat, river corriders, and trails - land of every size and type that has special conservation, historical, or open space value.
Landowners choose from a variety of protection tools.
The property may stay in private ownership and use, or may be transferred to the land trust. In every case, the way in which the property is protected depends on the wishes of the landowner and the natural values of the property. Yule Kilcher 's conservation easement ensures that his 660-acre homestead will not be subdivided. His children will develop small homesites and continue the agricultural and ranching activities Yule began in the 1950s.