What is a land trust?

Land trusts are private 501(c)(3) entities that acquire land for natural or historic preservation or hold conservation easements on such properties. There are approximately 1200 land trusts around the country.

How do land trusts protect land?

Land trusts save land by employing tools such as:

• accepting charitable contributions to purchase land in fee simple at market value or bargain sale      
• accepting donations of land in fee simple     
• accepting conservation easements over privately owned land      
• obtaining options to purchase land

What is a conservation easement? 

A conservation easement is a recorded legal document that permanently restricts some --- but not all --- activities on the property. The conservation easement acts to extinguish some of the so-called "sticks" of a property owner's "bundle of rights," such as the right to subdivide the land. The landowner voluntarily relinquishes these rights and gives another entity, usually a land trust, the right to enforce these restrictions. Importantly, a conservation easement does not mean that the property will be open to the public, unless it is the intention of the property owner to do so.

Why would anyone voluntarily restrict the use of their land?

Besides the satisfaction in knowing that acreage has been permanently protected from development, the landowner usually is entitled to significant state and federal tax benefits.

What are options to purchase?  

Land trusts can obtain options to purchase land at a future date for an agreed upon price and option fee. Options also can be used to secure rights to buy land for public agency acquisition when the amounts are appropriated.