Steps to retain limited development rights for family use or for future income generation may be taken. Certain tax advantages are incorporated into conservation easements. The individual structuring of conservation easements addresses any of these issues and more. The landowner may choose to live on the land, sell it, or pass it on to heirs. Easements are flexible and can be written to meet a particular landowner's needs while protecting the property's wildlife resources.
Most easements are permanent and remain in force when the land changes hands.
The easement holder ensures that the restrictions are followed. There are significant tax advantages if easements are donated rather than sold. The donation of a conservation easement to a land trust is treated as a charitable gift of the development rights. The donation creates a charitable tax deduction, equal to the value of the conservation easement, on the landowner's federal and state income tax returns. This page is intended to provide an overview of the conservation easement process.