The Emergence of Exacted Conservation Easements

Exacted conservation easements are not donated or voluntarily sold, they are mitigation requirements for landowners seeking to fulfill goals other than land protection. This article outlines reasons why exacted conservation easements emerged and why they are such a popular tool. Because they don’t embody the freedom of contract associated with traditional conservation easements and often tie directly to regulation of property, they are a tool that directly conflicts with many of the goals that gave rise to their emergence.