A professional assessment of the market value of a property.

The sale of a piece of property for less than market value. In most cases, a bargain sale to a land trust allows the landowner to receive an income tax deduction.

A conservation easement enables a landowner to retain private ownership of the land but with development restrictions. This easement also applies to all future owners of the land.

Document signed by a grantor (seller) transferring property from one person to another.

The legal rights of a landowner to develop his/her property.

A right of way giving individuals other than the owner permission to use a property for a specific purpose.

A process intended to identify, analyze and evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed project.

Because a conservation easement limits the future development and use of the property, the market value of the land is lowered. A reduction in market value can also result in reduced estate and inheri [..]

A fee simple involves outright ownership of real estate along with all of the rights associated with the land. A fee simple donation means that ownership is turned over to the land trust and the prope [..]

The most important reason landowners grant conservation easements is to protect their land from future disruption. The financial benefits of granting a conservation easement in perpetuity can also be [..]