White Mountains Land Trust

What Are the Benefits of Conservation?

What are the economic impacts to my community of conserving open space?

Many reports have shown that conserving open space in communities around the U.S. attracts jobs, enhances property values, and saves billions in government costs. 

Conservation Easements

What is a conservation easement?

A conservation easement (or conservation restriction) is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values.

It allows you to continue to own and use your land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs. When you donate a conservation easement to a land trust, you give up some of the rights associated with the land.

What Can I Do?

How can I protect my beautiful open space land from future development?

By working with a nonprofit land trust, you can decide the best conservation tool to use to protect your land. You can select from a number of tools, including the outright donation of your property, the donation or sale of a conservation easement that permanently restricts development, the bargain sale of your property, and several other variations. You should always have legal advice before embarking on such a decision.