Conservation easements are usually given to qualified non-profit, charitable land conservation organizations or public entities. Typically, a conservation easement restricts development while at the same time allowing other traditional uses. The easement holder enforces the terms of the easement, but the restrictions depend mostly on the landowner's needs. An owner might want to prevent development in a prime scenic area or wildlife habitat but still allow the cutting of timber or building of a structure in a less vulnerable portion of the property. Riparian Easements Riparian easements are a type of conservation easement that applies only to a streamside zone agreed on by the landowner and an easement holder.
Landowners develop a management plan for the riparian zone with the easement holder.
These agreements almost always include establishing or maintaining vegetation and limiting livestock access to the riparian zone, but each easement is tailored to the property and the desires of individual landowners. Currently tax credits can only be used to offset taxes owed over a period of up to five years. Estate tax reduction and exclusions are also possible, depending on the circumstances. The Open Space Preservation Trust Fund was created to assist landowners who wish to donate their development rights to qualified easement holders. The Virginia Outdoors Foundation administers this program which, though authorized to buy conservation easements.