Donate Land For Conservation In Suffolk
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If a conservation easement calls for public access, as many do, it is often the landowner who must consider the increased liability and look at buying more insurance to protect them. The landowner may also be tasked with protecting the easement holder, should an issue arise.
No one in the family wanted to continue farming so there was no one to take on the legacy. They didn't want it to become something they did not want it to be, so they had it converted to a conservation easement.
The Nature Conservancy defines a conservation easement as a voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on a piece of property now and in the future, while protecting the property's ecological or open-space values.
Let's look at a few scenarios of how an easement may impact your property. Less control over access and usage. Easements impact who has access to your property. The servient property owner cannot block the use of the easement.
The most common way to protect land is with a conservation easement. A conservation easement is a voluntary, legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values.
Drawbacks Of Conservation Easements Most conservation easements are permanent and bind all future landowners (including heirs). Conservation easement holders and farmers may not always share a common vision. Conservation easements can reduce the property's overall value, making the land worth less for future sales.
For instance, if the area around your property develops in a way you were not expecting or the needs of your family change, the restrictions on your land may constrict your options. In addition, an easement that allows for public access to the land will impact your family's privacy on the property going forward.
A conservation easement is just one of many options. You may also donate or sell property, donate or sell development rights, or do a bargain sale with a land trust. The opportunity of a permanent conservation easement can protect a family farm or ranch, allowing for future generations to continue in agriculture.
Contact land trusts and government agencies that work to assist landowners in your community who are interested in conservation. Get to know their policies and services, and discuss what you'd like to accomplish on your land and what rights you'd like to keep.