Community Conversation on Conservation Easements

On October 29, 2020, PCEC hosted another of our Community Conversations discussing the role of conservation easements in community planning efforts. This meeting was help remotely via video conference.

We were joined by Peter Brown, stewardship director from the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT), and Jessie Wiese, Southwest manager from the Montana Land Reliance (MLR), sharing their knowledge and experience with conservation easements in the region.

Watch a recording of the Community Conversation

Conservation easements offer landowners an option to preserve certain land in perpetuity by limiting development on their property. This voluntary arrangement is made possible through a negotiated agreement made between a landowner and conservation organization. Montana has numerous lands under conservation through organizations like GVLT, MLR and The Nature Conservatory.

Conservation easements can be used to help:

• Protect and improve wildlife habitat.

• Water conservation and improving water quality.

• Protect farm and ranch lands.

• Preserve lands of scenic and/or historic value.

Conservation easements can benefit landowners through purchase of potential development rights, providing a landowner with cash and/or certain tax advantages. Concurrently, easements can benefit a community by helping safeguard and protect valuable land and public resources.