Stewardship of Fee-Owned Lands

The costs incurred by a land trust in owning and operating a preserve vary greatly depending on the land trust’s plans for and activities on the land. This guide describes a quick and rough method to estimate costs and provides links to in-depth cost calculators and other resources. WeConservePA guide. 2 pages.

The Model Permission for Encroachment is a license agreement that allows an encroachment to continue until the owner withdraws permission. The model document also features owner protections from claims pertaining to injury or property damage, a requirement that the encroacher comply with the law, and the termination of any rights the encroacher may have to claim adverse possession.

What should you do if a neighboring landowner encroaches on your organization’s property (e.g., builds a shed or extends their lawn) or otherwise uses the land without permission? Sometimes immediately booting them is the best answer; sometimes making an accommodation that provides them with at least temporary permission makes more sense. Doing nothing invites trouble. WeConservePA guide. 3 pages.

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy uses this spreadsheet to calculate stewardship costs for a fee-owned property with trails, a parking lot, signs, and other amenities.

The Stewardship Handbook is a compilation of the knowledge gained from the organization’s four decades of experience managing its 20,000-acre network of nature preserves in the region. The 220-page book serves as a resource for professional land managers and planners as well as to homeowners seeking to adopt a greener approach to caring for their properties.