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Alliance for the Shenandoah ValleyAlliance for the Shenandoah Valley
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
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    • Board of Directors
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Farm landscape in a mid-summer afternoon under a cloudy sky with sunbeams shining through reflecting off the barn and farmhouse roof.

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.

Tell me more!

Local Land Trusts

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation

Valley Conservation Council

Potomac Conservancy

Public Agencies

Shenandoah County Conservation Easement Authority

Frederick County Conservation Easement Authority

Virginia Outdoors Foundation

Virginia Department of Forestry

Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Conservation Landowner Profiles

Fall view from Route 340 with a golden field in the foreground and mountains in the background under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds.

Transportation Planning & Land Conservation go Hand-in-Hand

A farmer stands in front of a solar array in a green pasture with a cow peeking out from behind the panels.

Solar part of farm lifestyle for Liskey family

About 25 people are standing in a field in the afternoon sun listening to someone talk about framing practices.

A happy farm and a healthy watershed in Page County

Robert Hupman is showing Taylor Evans from Valley Conservation Council the resources they're protecting together which include lush green fields and wooded areas.

Catching the Land Protection Bug

This summer, more than 60 area producers joined Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative (SVCC) partners to tour two local farms.

Summer 2021 Pasture Walks

Browntown residents learned how land protection is a great tool to protect family farms and improve water quality. 

Browntown Community Members Learn About Conservation Easements

Current Land Conservation Projects

Shenandoah County Land Conservation
Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative
Shenandoah Rail Trail
Shenandoah Valley Fund
Reservoir in the George Washington National Forest at sunset.
Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area
A small creek winds through a bank with lush plants, white and purple flowers alongside a field.
Smith Creek Showcase Watershed

Recent News

SOLD OUT “Surf and Turf”
May 02 2025

From the Shenandoah Valley to the wide-open expanse of the Chesapeake Bay, this film shows us how two different worlds can unite for a shared cause.

Conservation ‘Speed-Dating’
Apr 09 2025

Along with partners in the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative, we’ve been exploring a new way to connect landowners with technical expertise and funding for all kinds of conservation actions.

NEW Shenandoah Valley Conservation Fellowship
Feb 19 2025

We're excited to introduce an opportunity to cultivate young conservationists in the Shenandoah Valley—a new Conservation Fellowship.

All Land Conservation News
Support Our Work! Donate Online Here

Get In Touch

  • Kate Wofford, Executive Director
  • Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
  • 9485 S Congress St • PO Box 674 • New Market, VA 22844
  • (540) 908-3914
  • info@shenandoahalliance.org

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