Government Programs - Conservation Easements

Conservation easements are wonderful tools to help protect and restore natural areas.  They can provide a financial incentive for a landowner to protect and restore their land, but also give assurance that the land will remain that way.   A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a nonprofit conservation group or governmental agency that limits the uses of the land forever to protect specific conservation values.  While the landowner retains ownership of the property, the easement "runs with the land," that is the restrictions are forever attached to the land and are binding on successive owners.

Conservation easements benefit not only the environment, but also the landowner.  The Internal Revenue Code allows for conservation easements to qualify as tax-deductible charitable gifts as long as they meet certain conservation criteria.  The value of the gift is the difference between the appraised value of the land without the conservation easement and the value of it with it.   This can amount to a substantial tax savings.  Placing a conservation easement on property also reduces the estate taxes on the property.  Finally, while conservation easements do place restrictions on the landowners' use of the land, landowners do have the flexibility to design conservation easements so that they can accommodate specific uses, such as homes or other structures on the property, and private uses which will not damage conservation values. 

  
Conservation easements can provide a win-win situation for both the environment and landowners. 

Call Tallgrass for more information about how we can help you maintain your Easement.