What is a conservation easement?

A conservation easement refers to a voluntary agreement that landowners enter into to restrict the use and development of their property in order to protect its ecological and conservation values. This legal agreement allows the landowner to maintain ownership of the land while ensuring that it is preserved for future generations, often for purposes such as wildlife habitat, agricultural use, or open space.

The key aspect of a conservation easement is that it is voluntarily agreed upon by the landowner, meaning they choose to limit how their land can be used in order to support conservation efforts. This can often involve prohibiting certain types of development or land use that could harm the natural environment. By doing so, the easement serves to balance the interests of private property rights with the community's environmental and conservation goals.

Other choices reference concepts that do not align with the specific nature of a conservation easement. For example, a required easement on all new developments suggests a legal obligation rather than a voluntary agreement, while zoning laws pertain to broader municipal regulations regarding land use. An involuntary lien implies a financial claim against property due to debt, which is unrelated to the conservation-focused purpose of an easement.