Model Declaration of Public Trust for Conservation Easements (with Commentary)

The Model Declaration of Public Trust for Conservation Easements is a tool for local governments to use to help ensure that the conservation easements they acquire are long-lasting and durable no matter changes in politics. With a Declaration, the local government declares a public trust containing a conservation easement held by the government and affirms the government's role and duty as trustee in service of the public purposes described in the conservation easement's conservation objectives. THE DRAFT MODEL AVAILABLE HERE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.