WeConservePA (formerly Pennsylvania Land Trust Association) : WeConservePA Library

2015 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report

2017 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report

2019 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report

2021 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report

2023 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report

Acting on Owner Requests for Review, Waiver, and Interpretation Regarding Conservation Easements

Adding to Land Under Conservation Easement

Addressing Climate Change and Carbon Sequestration in Conservation Easements

Adverse Possession in Pennsylvania

Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program

Agricultural Protection Zoning

Agricultural Security Areas

Amending Conservation Easements

Amend OR Amend and Restate: Matching Approach to Situation When Making Changes to a Conservation Easement

A Scientific Foundation for Shaping Riparian Buffer Protection Regulations

Authorization of Real Estate Transactions: Rules and Process for Nonprofits

Beneficiaries and Backup Holders: Providing Third Parties With Rights but Not Responsibilities Regarding Conservation Easements

Biodiversity: A Guide

Bridge Loans for Conservation Purchases: Borrowing from Revolving Loan Funds

Build-Out Analysis

Carbon Rights and Assignment of Carbon Credit Sale Proceeds: Providing Conservation Easement Holders the Potential to Receive Carbon-Related Benefits

CEAP Files

Clean and Green: Pennsylvania's Preferential Tax Assessment Program

Climate Change and Land Conservation

Closing: Finalizing the Real Estate Transaction

Co-Holding Conservation Easements: Considerations for Good Management and Conservation Outcomes

Collaborative Opportunities for Land Trusts

Commission-Based Compensation Fundraising

Community Visioning

Conservation by Design

Conservation Easements: An Introduction for Private Landowners

Conservation Easements in Court: A Review of Easement Violation and Enforcement Litigation in Pennsylvania

Cost of Community Services Studies

Cost of Community Services Studies: Making the Case for Conservation

Costs of Conservation Easement Stewardship

Costs of Due Diligence in Conservation Acquisitions

Costs of Owning and Operating Preserves

Crowdfunding for Land Trusts

Deed Restriction Versus Conservation Easement

Delineating Conservation Easement Boundaries and Protection Areas

Development Threat Analysis

Donation Agreements

Donation by Will: Options and Issues Regarding Gifts of Cash, Land and Other Property

Donation of Stock and Other Securities

Don't Regulate Rooftop Solar Without Compelling Cause

Drafting an Amendment and Restatement of a Grant of Conservation Easement

Economic Benefits of Biodiversity

Economic Benefits of Land Conservation: A Guide

Economic Benefits of Parks

Economic Benefits of Smart Growth and Costs of Sprawl

Economic Benefits of Trails

Effective Email Newsletters for Nonprofits

Elections and 501(c)(3) Organizations

Eminent Domain and Conserved Land in Pennsyslvania

Endowments and More

Ensuring the Permanence of Parks and Other Public Open Space: Safeguards for Lands Entrusted to Local Government

Environmental Advisory Council: A Versatile Arm for Pennsylvania Local Government

Estoppel Certificates, Compliance Statements, and Conservation Easements

Farmland Preservation Options for Landowners: Government and Private Approaches to Conservation Easements in Pennsylvania

From Lawn to Meadow: Protect Water, Provide Habitat, Save Money

Funding Conservation Easement Stewardship: Your Role as the Land's Owner and Conservation Champion

Gift of a Future Interest in Real Estate: Reserved Life Estates Keep Owners in Control During Their Lifetimes

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Green Burial

Growing Greener, Melding Conservation and Development

Guidelines for Conservation Easement Amendments, Waivers, and Letters of Interpretation

Guide to Pennsylvania's Recreational Use of Land and Water Act: A Law Limiting the Liability of Those Who Open Their Land to the Public

Guide to the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act: Pennsylvania Act 29 of 2001

Hiring and Managing Interns

How Pennsylvanians View Government Funding of Conservation: An Overview of Polling and Voting Results

Identifying and Prioritizing Streamside Forest Planting Sites in Pennsylvania Using GIS

Impacts of Natural Land Loss on Water Quality

Indemnity Agreements and Liability Insurance: Protection From Claims Brought by Third Parties

Installment Agreement

Invasive Species Management Program

Investment of Nonprofit Financial Assets

Keystone Fund: My Story

Lands Available for Conservation in Pennsylvania Townships That Have Open Space Taxes

Land Trust Accreditation

Land Trust Merger Case Studies

Land Trust Standards and Practices: Guidelines for the Responsible Operation of a Land Trust

Legal Considerations for Stewardship Funding Arrangements: Binding Present and Future Landowners to Present Promises

Legal Considerations in Amending Grants of Conservation Easement

Legal opinion: conservation qualifies for ARP funds

Lighting Ordinance

Lobbying Rules and 501(c)3 Organizations

Local Land Use Planning and Controls in Pennsylvania

Local Municipal Open Space Referendums in Pennsylvania: 2023 Status Report

Local Regulation for Historic Preservation

Making Restricted Gifts: Impacts of Restrictions on Charitable Tax Deductions

Management of the Document Preparation Process

Media Advisory Template for Legislative Site Visit

Merger: An Introduction for Conservation Organizations

Model Amendment of Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants

Model Assignment of Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants

Model Baseline Documentation Acknowledgment with Commentary

Model Checklist for Real Estate Transactions

Model Compliance Statement with Commentary

Model Consent, Non-Disturbance, and Subordination Agreement with Commentary, 2nd edition

Model Conservation Easement Donation Agreement with Commentary

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

Model Declaration of Public Trust with Commentary

Model Documents Overview

Model Fishing Access Agreement and Commentary

Model Grant of Access Easement for Environmental Stewardship with Commentary, 2nd edition

Model Grant of Conservation Easement, 6th edition (archived--not for use)

Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants

Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants for Riparian Buffer Protection

Model Grant of Fishing and Boating Access Easement

Model Grant of Purchase Option with Commentary

Model Grant of Right of First Offer

Model Grant of Right of First Refusal

Model Grant of Trail Easement with Commentary: A Short Form Alternative to the Model Trail Easement Agreement

Model Maintenance and Operation Agreement with Commentary

Model Permission for Encroachment

Model Policy for Acting on Owner Requests for Review, Waiver, and Interpretation

Model Policy for Conservation Easement Amendment

Model Release of Liability Form

Model Riparian Buffer Protection Overlay District: Proposed Regulation for Use in a Municipal Zoning Ordinance, 2nd Edition

Model Stewardship Cost Calculator

Model Stewardship Funding Covenant with Commentary

Model Trail Easement Agreement with Commentary

Model Trail License Agreement with Commentary

National Poll Results: How Americans View Conservation

Nature Play: Nurturing Children and Strengthening Conservation through Connections to the Land

Nonprofit Name Change

Not a Charitable Trust: The Donated Conservation Easement in Pennsylvania

Not a Public Trust: The Land Trust-Held Conservation Easement in Pennsylvania

Open Space Program Handbook

Optimizing Direct-Mail Fundraising Appeals

Option to Sell (Put Option)

Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices on Trails and Areas Open to Pedestrians: Creating and Implementing Policies for Accessibility and Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Outdoor Access and Programs

Overview of Pennsylvania’s Recreational Use of Land and Water Act

PALTA Comment on Land Trust Standards and Practices, 9/13/2016

Parks in Perpetuity: The Protections Provided to Parks and Other Public Open Spaces Under Pennsylvania Law

Pennsylvania Annual Trail Reports

Pennsylvania Local Governments May Support Land Trusts

Pennsylvania Nature Play Areas

Pennsylvania Streams Map

Permits for Events, Hunting, Camping, and Other Uses of Conserved Land

Placing Transfer Fees in Grants of Conservation Easement

Planned Giving

Planning a Site Visit with Your Legislator

Polls Show Pennsylvanians Support Environmental Protection

Pre-Existing Mortgages in Easement Transactions: Using Non-Disturbance and Subordination Agreements to Prevent Extinguishment and Comply with Tax Law

Prescribed Fire

Press Release Template for Legislative Site Visit

Prioritization of Conservation Resources

Promoting Walking for Wellness

Property Tax Exemption for Preserves, Parks, Trails, and Other Conserved Lands

Public Access Policies and Practices for Land Trusts: Survey Results in Pennsylvania

Public Dedication of Land and Fees-in-Lieu for Parks and Recreation in Pennsylvania

Purchase and Sale Agreements for Conservation Projects: Guidance and Sample Provisions

Purchase Options: Gaining the Right Without the Obligation to Acquire Property Interests

Realty Transfer Tax Exclusions for Conservation-Related Transactions in Pennsylvania

Recordkeeping for Conservation Easement Stewardship

Reducing Federal Estate Tax: A Conservation Easement Benefit for Large Estates

Reducing Liability Associated with Public Access

Reducing Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax

Referendum to Authorize a Tax or Bond for Conservation

Regional Growth Management and Regional Transportation Planning (Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Central Pennsylvania)

Release of Liability Form: A Tool to Reduce the Risk of Claims for Personal Injury or Property Loss

Responding to an Encroachment: Oust or Give Permission with Conditions

Restricted Gifts: Considerations in Accepting, Managing, and Soliciting Gifts for a Specific Purpose

Restricting Development to What Is Approved in a Subdivision and Land Development Plan

Reversionary Interest

Right of First Offer and Right of First Refusal

Riparian Buffer Protection Agreement

Sample Scheduling Request for a Legislative Site Visit

Seller Take Back Financing

Separate Entity to Hold Riskier Properties

Sign Ordinance

Solar Energy Development and Land Conservation

Statutory Protection from Liability Related to Public Access: Pennsylvania Law Supports Opening Land to the Public

Steep Slope Ordinance

Stewardship Funding Arrangements: sample brochure

Stewardship Funding Arrangements: Supporting Easement Holders in Carrying out Their Conservation Duties

Strategies for Collaborative Membership Recruitment

Street and Sidewalk Design

Succession Planning for Nonprofits

The Durability of Conservation Easements

The Environmental Advisory Council Handbook: Guidance for Establishing and Operating EACs in Pennsylvania

The Environmental Advisory Council Network Website

The Intersection of Carbon Offsets and Conservation Easements

The Nature of the Conservation Easement and the Document Granting It

The Official Map: A Handbook for Preserving and Providing Public Lands and Facilities

The Science Behind the Need for Riparian Buffer Protection

Traditional Neighborhood Development

Traffic Calming

Trail Easements

Trails for All People: Guidance for Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Transfer of Development Rights

Trapped in a Contract: Don't Get Burned by Evergreen and Automatic Renewal Clauses

Tree Law in Pennsylvania

Tree Ordinance

Urban Growth Boundary

Using a Deed Restriction to Protect Land: A Path for When Neither a Land Trust Nor Government Can Help

Using the Model Conservation Easement

Volunteers: Guidance for Recruiting, Training, Managing, and Retaining Unpaid Workers

Water Quality and the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program: An Examination of Present Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities

WeConservePA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice gateway

What Is a Land Trust?

What is Conservation?

Who Has Standing? Conservation Easements in Pennsylvania Courts

Who May Get Involved in Conservation Easement Management Matters? A Consideration for Amendment of Pre-June 2001 Easements

Why Preserve Farmland?

Working Forest Conservation Easement: A Property Rights-Based Tool for Conservation

Working with Nature to Manage Stormwater

Your Loss Is Not My Benefit; Your Gain Is Not My Detriment: The Tenuous Link Between Value to Landowner and Value to Conservation in Easement Transactions

Zoning for Solar and Wind Energy Systems