What is a conservation easement?

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a conservation organization or public agency. It restricts the amount and type of development that can occur on a piece of land and protects a property’s value as agricultural land, a scenic view, an open space, a river corridor, a park, etc. The agreement is perpetual and runs with the land, binding all future owners of the land as well as the existing landowner.