What is a Conservation Easement?

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement that allows a landowner to limit the type or amount of development on their property while retaining private ownership of the land. It is a legal document restricting future uses of the land. The easement is signed by the landowner, who is the easement donor, and the Conservancy, who is the party receiving the easement. The Conservancy accepts the easement with the understanding that it must enforce the terms of the easement in perpetuity. After the easement is signed, it is recorded with the County Register of Deeds and applies to all future owners of the land.

Another way to visualize a conservation easement is to think of owning land as holding a bundle of rights. Each one of these rights represents the landowner's ability to do something with their property. The right to build a house, to extract minerals, to lease the property, pass it on to heirs, and allow hunting are all rights that the landowner has. A landowner may give up certain rights associated with their property through a document called a conservation easement.

Why do people grant Conservation Easements?

People grant conservation easements not only because they want to protect their property from unwanted development, but they also wish to retain ownership of their land. By granting a conservation easement, a landowner can be assured that the property will be protected and cared for forever, regardless of who owns the land in the future. An additional benefit of granting a conservation easement is that the donation of an easement may provide significant financial advantages to the donor.

What kind of financial advantages can result from granting a Conservation Easement?

Many landowners receive a federal income tax deduction for the gift of a Conservation Easement. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction if the easement is perpetual and donated "exclusively for conservation purposes." The amount of the tax deduction is determined by the value of the conservation easement. In addition, the donor may have estate and property tax relief. (Also see Tax Advantages & other Financial Considerations)

What activities are allowed on land protected by a Conservation Easement?

The activities allowed by a Conservation Easement depend on the landowner's wishes and the characteristics of the property. In some instances, no further development is allowed on the land. In other circumstances some additional development is allowed, but the amount and type of development is less than would otherwise be allowed. Conservation easements may be designed to cover all or only a portion of a property. Every easement is unique, tailored to a particular landowner's goals and their land.

Can the landowner still sll or give the property away?

The landowner continues to own the property after executing an easement. Therefore, the owner can sell, give or lease the property, as before. However, all future owners must abide by the easement.

Does the public have the right to access easement-protected property?

The public does not have access to property protected by an easement unless the original landowner who grants the easement specifically allows it. Most easement donors do not wish for, and therefore do not allow, public access to their property.

How long does an easement last, and who upholds it in the future?

To be eligible for a federal income tax deduction, the easement must be "perpetual," that is, it must last forever. The Conservancy monitors the property, generally once a year, to assure that the easement is not being violated. If the easement has been breached the Conservancy will take whatever steps are necessary to uphold the terms of the easement, including legal action. Because of this obligation, the Conservancy asks all easement donors to make a financial contribution to the Conservancy's Endowment Fund. This fund ensures long-term monitoring and enforcement of every easement the Conservancy receives.

Who owns the Conservation Easement?

To qualify for a tax deduction, the easement must be donated to a unit of government or a qualifying conservation or historic preservation organization. The Conservancy qualifies as a federally recognized public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501( c )( 3 ). In addition, the Conservancy is qualified to receive conservation easements under Michigan's Conservation and Historic Preservation Easement Act, PA 197 of 1980.

Who owns and manages easement-protected land?

The landowner retains full rights to control and manage their property within the limits of the easement. The landowner continues to bear all costs and liabilities related to ownership and maintenance of the property. The Conservancy monitors the property to ensure compliance with the easement's terms, but it has no other management responsibilities and exercises no direct control over other activities on the land.

Does the Easement have to cover all the landowner's property?

No, some easements only cover a portion of the landowner's property. Again, it depends on the landowner's wishes. For example, if someone owns 80 acres, of which 35 acres are wetlands, the landowner may decide to restrict development only on the 35 acres. The remaining 45 acres would not be covered or affected by the easement.

What kind of land can be protected by a Conservation Easement?

IRS regulations require that the property have "significant" conservation values. This includes forests, wetland, endangered species habitat, beaches, scenic areas and more. The Conservancy also has its own criteria for accepting easements. At the invitation of the landowner, Conservancy staff will evaluate the property to determine whether it meets these criteria.