CONSERVATION EASEMENT INFORMATION
OLT relies on individuals and grants to carry out its work.
Conservation easements are Okanogan Land Trust's primary tool for land preservation. A conservation easement is a voluntary, written agreement between a landowner and a qualified organization, such as the Okanogan Land Trust. It permanently protects specific conservation values such as wildlife habitat, riparian areas, agricultural lands, historic structures, scenic views, and open spaces. Conservation easements are permanently attached to property title, and their limitations on use are designed to protect conservation values in perpetuity.
Each easement is individually tailored to fit the land, and a careful process ensures that both landowner and the OVLC are able to craft an agreement that meets the desires of both parties.
A conservation easement does not:
- Change the property ownership or grant public access
- Change a landowner's right to sell or bequeath land
- Limit management or use of the land beyond what is required and agreed upon to protect the conservation values.
Okanogan Land Legacy: Conservation Easement Information is a publication that explains conservation easements in more detail. In addition, OLT is pleased to explain the process personally before a landowner decides if this is the right course of action to take.
OLT currently holds six conservation easements that protect over 1,000 acres of land. Conservation values protected include wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, scenic views, open space and riparian zones. Landowners on these lands have chosen the conservation easement as the best tool for preserving the vitality, health, and function of the land for generations to come.
Connecting with a Special Sense of Place: Landowners Peter Clitherow and Arvia Morris Share Their Story
|
Connecting people to the land is an important step in learning to appreciate it and care for it. OLT fosters this connection in several ways
OLT works with landowners who have chosen to create a conservation easement on their property to ensure that important conservation values are protected into the future.
Land Trusts are private, non-profit land conservation organizations. Land trusts work with private landowners to preserve land that is unique and valuable due to ecological, agricultural, scenic, historic, or recreational qualities.
|
