Conservation Easement
Conservation easements can meet the needs of interested owners of working farms, ranches, timberlands, sporting properties and recreational lands, who wish to protect valuable natural resources while retaining ownership of the property. A perpetual conservation easement allows a landowner to protect key natural habitats of a property while continuing to use the area for economic gain or recreation.
Purpose
A conservation easement is a legal agreement that a land owner makes to restrict the type and amount of development that may take place on his or her property. The easement document is tailored to meet the needs and interests of the landowner. DU believes that most lands can benefit wildlife and still produce an economic return to its owner.
DU's program accepts easements in perpetuity through its affiliate Wetlands America Trust, as well as accompanying donations to cover associated costs such as the annual monitoring effort. DU agrees to monitor the property on a yearly basis to ensure the protection of its natural resources for years to come. Such protection will ensure that large acreages of wetlands, riparian habitats and important uplands will be preserved for the benefit of waterfowl, other wildlife and the enjoyment of future generations. This partnership between the landowner and DU also may result in the reduction of current income and estate taxes.
Conservation Easement News and Articles
Floods, Ducks, and Development
Urban sprawl in historic river floodplains threatens waterfowl, people, and the environment
By Matt Young
 Throughout history, North America’s rivers have been flyways for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Look at a national map plotted with the locations of where banded ducks have been harvested, and you will clearly see the outlines of the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Susquehanna, Platte, Columbia, and other familiar waterways formed by dense clusters of band recovery reports. Rivers not only serve as landmarks that help guide waterfowl during their epic transcontinental migrations but also are directly linked to a variety of valuable wetlands in their adjacent floodplains and watersheds... (more)
DU Helps See Pensions Bill Through
Conservation scores big
 WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2006 – President Bush today signed into law the Pension Protection Act, which included an expanded tax incentives provision benefiting landowners donating conservation easements. Ducks Unlimited’s governmental affairs office in Washington worked hard for four years with the administration, Congress and partners to shepherd this legislation into law.
“Congress and President Bush have just done a very good thing for conservation in America,” said DU Executive Vice President Don Young... (more)
Conservation - Conserving the Future
By David Marrone
More and more landowners are using conservation easements to permanently protect wildlife habitat on their property
 Government agencies have successfully protected millions of acres of wildlife habitat across North America as national parks, national wildlife refuges, wildlife management areas, and other conservation lands. While acquiring land for public ownership and use is obviously an important way to conserve habitat, the vast majority of undeveloped land—including 75 percent of the nation’s remaining wetlands—is privately owned. To help protect these vital habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife, conservationists must find ways to compensate private landowners for good stewardship. This is especially true in this era of skyrocketing land values when landowners are facing increasing development pressure...
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Jim Crews: Ward Lake Conservation Easement
By Jimmy Emfinger
 Jim Crews is a retired businessman from Memphis, Tennessee, but if you spend a little time with him, it becomes clear that he doesn't understand the meaning of the word "retired." By day, prior to retirement, Jim was the owner and manager of a physicians' health group in Memphis. He also had another job, moonlighting as a conservationist.
His destiny to become a conservationist started in the 1950s, when Jim and his father first leased land to hunt. It started innocently enough, but soon he was in love with that land—the property associated with Ward Lake. This special place in Coahoma County, Mississippi, just took hold of his heart... (more)
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