Stewardship of Eased Lands

Findings from a national survey about easement violations, including litigation, costs, and lessons for land trusts.

The holder of a conservation easement must monitor the eased property to confirm compliance with conservation restrictions and, when necessary, take action to uphold the conservation objectives of the easement. These and other stewardship activities result in costs, year in and year out, to the holder.

Have you ever received a request to amend an easement and weren’t sure of the right course of action? Unsure about how to decline a request without alienating the landowner? Have you been confronted with a new landowner who is unaware of or reluctant to abide by the terms of the easement? If so, this book can help.

This calculator has been created for public and private land owners who regularly care for lawns. This tool calculates fuel, dollar, greenhouse gas (GHG), and other savings associated with changing current mowing practices.

At times, it may seem like landowners have no choice but to surrender to the sprawling development engulfing many rural areas, but this simply is not true. This guide highlights the numerous options that are available for either protecting large properties from development, or developing them in a way that is sensitive to and compatible with the landscape.

This article seeks to explore, and understand the support for, third-party enforcement of conservation easements by persons who are not parties to the conservation easement, not the holder or co-holder of the conservation easement, nor identified in the conservation easement deed as having a third-party enforcement right.