An easement is a legal document between a landowner and land trust such as PAC. It serves to protect land against unwanted uses or conditions while allowing ownership to remain with the landowner. Conservation easements are a widely used tool for land protection throughout the United States.

Although easements are tailored to each specific case, in general the landowner agrees to keep the land in its natural condition without extensive disturbance, while the land trust is entitled to monitor the land periodically and enforce the terms of the easement if it finds violations. Most easements are "in perpetuity", so that even if the landowner sells the land, the new owner must also abide by the easement's terms.

Easements provide many benefits to both the landowner and the public in general by conserving significant natural resources and endangered populations of plants and animals. Easements may also be written to allow for recreational use by the public. Because many easements provide these important public benefits, an easement may provide substantial federal and state tax incentives for the landowner.

Learn more about easements by visiting the Land Trust Alliance, the national organization representing land trusts like PAC.

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