Conservation Tools

This paper presents a methodology for rating existing or potential conservation land according to ten criteria weighted to reflect the needs of the local community in which the land is located. The ratings may be used to determine priority for public acquisition.

Conservation easements have permitted the leverage of private initiative, resources, and commitment to ensure that open space and wildlife habitats are preserved for future generations. At the same time though, private conservation easements raise public policy concerns related to the tax subsidies, the absence of public process in their creation, long-term stewardship, and flexibility to adapt conserved land to emerging needs of the community. This article examines the recent achievements and benefits of conservation easements, and suggests some reforms that might make them an even stronger vehicle for land conservation in the public interest.

Preferential assessment of rural land has modestly slowed the rate of rural land development. It also imposes social costs. Reform of preferential assessment programs could both improve their efficacy and reduce negative impacts.

Part One of this report provides an introduction to some of the issues arising from conservation easements, as foretold at the time of the enactment of the federal laws that granted them tax subsidies. Part One also describes the reasons why the public has a stake in conservation easements and in their content and governance. Part Two provides a Primer on Land Trusts and Conservation Easements, including defining terms, providing historical context and reporting current trends and a preview of the future problems that they present. Part Three specifically discusses issues emanating from conservation easements and evaluates a number of alternative ways to resolve them.

A review of the now quite extensive economics literature on the value of open space, this study covers more than 60 articles published in the past 25 years that use the various methodologies. The analysis focuses primarily on the value of open space in and around urbanized areas, including parks, greenbelts, natural areas and wildlife habitats, wetlands, and farmland.