Conservation easements vary depending on the landowner’s wishes and the conservation values of the property. For example, a CE for a property containing rare wildlife habitat might prohibit any development except for trails, while a CE on a farm might allow continued farming and the building of additional agricultural structures.
There are many benefits to placing a conservation easement on your land. Perhaps most importantly, it is a way for conservation-minded landowners to permanently protect the land they love and ensure their vision for the land is carried out, benefiting future generations. Landowners who donate a CE know that natural forests will continue to host native plants and animals, farmland will continue to be able to be farmed, and the water quality of streams and rivers will be enhanced. The land remains privately owned, and can be left to heirs or sold.