Land Conservation

Land conservation means making plans for your land so that existing natural and cultural resources are protected for future generations. Important land conservation tools are permanent conservation easements and temporary agricultural and forestal districts.

Three generations of the Hupman Family standing at a vista overlooking the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

Robert Hupman and his daughter Shenandoah with Anne Guy and Anne’s daughter, Jackie Leggett (left to right). Read their family’s land conservation story in Catching the Land Protection Bug. (Photo by Explore the Valley Photography)

Conservation Easements

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement established between a landowner and non-profit conservation organization, called a land trust, or public entity. The landowner decides what uses to allow or restrict on their property and the organization or entity agrees to enforce those decisions perpetually.

The land trust or entity who agrees to enforce the easement is known as the easement holder. The terms of the easement, what is allowed and restricted, are legally enforceable and stay with the land, even when ownership changes.

There are governmental and non-profit programs to help protect land with specific resources, such as prime soils and forests, historic sites, and natural heritage. Easements established through these programs have special protections tailored to the unique resources on the property.

Agriculture and Forestal Districts

Agricultural and Forestal Districts are temporary agreements between landowners and a county to keep their property undeveloped and available for farming or forestry for a certain period of time, usually 4 to 10 years. Participation in these districts is voluntary and intended to help counties protect farm and forested land as a major economic and environmental resource.

Why land conservation?

Landowner Benefits

Conserving your land:

preserves your loved place for future generations;

protects the unique conservation values of the property;

when in easement, your vision for the land is ensured in perpetuity;

can provide significant tax and estate planning benefits.

Community-wide Benefits

Land that is conserved:

ensures rural landscapes remain productive and intact;

strengthens the agricultural economy;

protects the community’s food and water supply;

preserves our historic and cultural resources and wildlife habitat.

The Shenandoah Valley Fund

For landowners considering an easement, but concerned about the up-front costs, check out The Shenandoah Valley Fund, a revolving loan fund to help landowners cover costs, created by the Alliance and our partners in the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative.

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