Private, voluntary conservation easements are customized for every property and landowner’s vision. In general, conservation easements protect the land from unlimited subdivision and development, while also protecting the rights of private ownership. When a landowner donates a conservation easement to a land trust, the owner gives up some of the rights associated with the land and retains the remaining rights. For example, the right to build additional residential structures may be extinguished, while the right to grow crops or raise livestock may be reserved. In some instances, the ability to build additional family homes or limited development is retained. An easement is tailored to the specific needs and desires of the landowner and is a voluntary transaction. The land trust is responsible for making sure the easement's terms are followed in perpetuity. The donation of an easement may result in a charitable contribution deduction for tax purposes and related income, estate, and/or gift tax relief. In some cases, GVLT can help find funding to compensate landowners for a portion of the conservation easement value.
For more information about conservation easements, please contact GVLT’s staff at 406-587-8404. home
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landowner's intro
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works with private landowners to conserve working farms and ranches, river corridors and critical wildlife habitat, scenic views, and urban open space in Gallatin, Park, Meagher, Madison, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties. Voluntary conservation agreements, known as conservation easements, limit development while keeping these irreplaceable landscapes in private ownership and management. Since GVLT's first conservation easement in 1991, we have partnered with 70 families to conserve over 32,000 acres.
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