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.