Conservation Easements and Gifts of Land

Many landowners have a strong connection with their land and want to permanently protect its natural or agricultural values.

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and nonprofit conservation organization or government agency that permanently limits a property's uses in order to protect its conservation values. Often landowners donate a conservation easement on their property to a qualified nonprofit organization or government agency, but easements may also be purchased if the property is eligible under a conservation program.

The sites below provide basic information about conservation easements as well as other options available to landowners. If you are interested in knowing more, you will want to talk with a land trust or government agency about your property and what would be appropriate.

• Landowner Conservation Options (Gathering Waters) [exit DNR]
• Land Trust Alliance Web Page—Publications [exit DNR]
• A Gift of Land to the Department of Natural Resources [PDF 315KB]