Land Conservation

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement, established between a landowner and non-profit conservation organization or public agency, which places specific permanent restrictions on the use and development of a property.

In Virginia, conservation easements are “held” by either a government agency or a non-profit conservation organization, called a land trust. Holding means the land trust or agency has agreed to accept the terms of the easement and assumes the long-term legal responsibility for monitoring the land and enforcing the easement restrictions.

There are also governmental and non-profit organizations with programs that target land with specific resources, such as prime farmland, historic sites, or natural heritage protection. Historic preservation easements have special protections tailored to the unique resources on the property.