Conservation easements are individually tailored agreements through which landowners voluntarily limit the use and development of their property to permanently preserve its natural or cultural features. These real estate transactions involve a number of steps which include negotiation of terms and restrictions, mapping, title work, and more, and which end with a document that will protect the conservation values of the land.
Conservation easements can be used to protect a variety of lands that benefit the public through their conservation values. The Minnesota Land Trust concentrates its efforts on protecting:
- Habitat for wildlife, fish and other species, and native plant communities such as prairies, forests, blufflands, and wetlands
- Lakes, rivers, and streams
- Scenic landscapes, particularly those with local community significance
Most conservation easements are placed on privately owned lands. However, there are occasions when public lands may be protected with a conservation easement.
- Each conservation easement is unique and is individually crafted to reflect the special characteristics of the land and the particular situation of the landowner.
- Most conservation easements, including all of those held by the Minnesota Land Trust, are perpetual; they apply to the current owner and all future landowners, permanently protecting the property.
- Not all land is suitable for protection with a conservation easement. Lands with limited conservation values or situations in which a landowner desires to retain certain rights that would conflict with an easement’s conservation purpose may not warrant a conservation easement.
- The vast majority of conservation easements are placed on privately owned lands. However, there are occasions when public lands may be protected with a conservation easement. For example, private land encumbered by an easement may be subsequently transferred to a public entity. Or a city may seek permanent protection from development of a particularly sensitive parcel of its own land.
What’s it like to have a conservation easement on your land?
The restrictions set out in each conservation easement are established to protect the specific conservation values that have been identified on that particular piece of land. Restrictions may apply to all of a landowner’s property or to only a portion of it.
Landowners retain the right to use their land for any purpose that is consistent with the easement.
A conservation easement restricts certain uses of the land.
The restrictions are established to protect the identified conservation values and if applicable, to fulfill the funding source requirements. Easements typically address:
- Commercial, industrial, residential, and agricultural uses
- Location and size of buildings and other structures
- Mining and other surface alterations
- Roads, trails, and utilities
- Disturbance of vegetation or water features
- Division of the property into multiple parcels
- Management of vegetation
You retain most rights to the land.
A landowner retains all rights associated with ownership and use of the property not restricted or prohibited by the conservation easement. The landowner still owns the land and has the right to use it for any purpose that is consistent with the conservation easement. All landowners retain the right to sell, transfer, mortgage, or lease the land. Landowners typically additionally retain the right to:
- Maintain an existing residence or structures
- Ecologically manage the habitat
- Maintain and use trails
- Observe nature, hike, hunt, fish, and otherwise enjoy the land
Landowners have certain responsibilities.
With a conservation easement, the landowner remains responsible for the land: for its maintenance and upkeep, for paying taxes, and for otherwise meeting the typical obligations of land ownership. Conservation easements add a few further requirements; landowners must:
- Notify the Land Trust of proposed changes to the property (including when selling or transferring)
- Allow annual visits by certified monitors
- Obtain Land Trust approvals for certain activities, depending on the easement terms
The Land Trust also has responsibilities.
The Minnesota Land Trust is obligated to annually monitor and enforce the terms of each easement that it holds. If necessary, the Minnesota Land Trust will enforce its rights as set out in the conservation easement. The Land Trust does not otherwise have the right to use the property without the landowner’s permission.
Landowner performing prescribed prairie burn
The Easement Process
A conservation easement is a legal document that is created after an in-depth review process. Depending upon a number of factors, the process and timeline varies and may take anywhere from approximately six months to over a year to complete.
Initial Contact
Interested landowners complete a questionnaire to help the Land Trust learn more about the property and better understand a landowner’s goals and conservation objectives. Parties may contact the Minnesota Land Trust directly or respond to a request for proposal.
Site Evaluation
The Minnesota Land Trust evaluates the site to determine the property’s natural and scenic values. Oftentimes, the evaluation is done remotely, but it may also involve an on-site visit. The Land Trust also identifies funding to cover costs associated with the project.
Gather Information
The Minnesota Land Trust obtains maps, title work and other information about the property and the surrounding area.
The landowner contacts an attorney to represent them in the conservation easement transaction. If interested in potential federal income tax benefits, the landowner arranges for an appraisal to determine the value of the conservation easement.
Drafting Documents
The Minnesota Land Trust staff prepares a draft conservation easement and a baseline documentation report, including photographs, maps, the property’s history, and the condition of natural features, vegetation, structures and improvements, for review and discussion by the landowner and the landowner’s attorney. If the conservation easement is being purchased by the Minnesota Land Trust, a purchase agreement option is prepared by the Land Trust.
Secure Approvals
Land Trust staff obtains approval of the project by the Land Trust’s Board of Directors. If the project is receiving grant funding, it must be approved by the funding source as well.
Habitat Management Plans
For projects funded through grants, the Land Trust staff obtains a site-specific habitat management plan for the landowner. This plan provides recommendations and guidance for restoring and managing the ecological communities on the property.
Finalize and Record Documents
At closing, a final conservation easement and baseline documentation report, as well as other necessary documents are signed by the landowner and the Minnesota Land Trust. In addition, the Land Trust staff ensures the easement documents are then recorded.
Conservation Easement Forever
The Minnesota Land Trust begins its long-term commitment to preserve the conservation values of the land into the future.
Get Started
If after reading, you are interested in land protection with the Minnesota Land Trust, you are encouraged to complete our questionnaire to begin the process. This is a detailed questionnaire designed to gather information about the property and your interest in protection. When received, we will review the information provided and determine if and how the Land Trust will be able to assist you.
This questionnaire will take some time to complete. If you have a more general question about land protection, please use contact our office.
“It was a pleasure to work with the team from Minnesota Land Trust… They were very patient with us as we went through the process and then explained in detail what it would mean to us, and to the preserving of our land. Their extreme thoroughness helped us feel very comfortable with our decision to partner with them.” Wayne J. – Kittson County
