Conservation Easement Education

Skill Building

 Speakers:
George F. Smith and Christopher D. Clark
865-974-7417
gfsmith@utk.edu
University of Tennessee
The rapid changes in land use experienced in urbanizing rural areas has increased interest in conservation easements as a means of maintaining land in agriculture and forestry. Easements are also used as a tool in watershed projects, greenbelt development, and other land use activities affecting rural communities. While many community leaders, landowners and other interested individuals have heard about conservation easements, their knowledge is often fragmentary. This presentation will showcase a fact sheet we wrote to provide basic information on conservation easements. It will include: the concept of property ownership and rights to land; legal implications of conservation easements; possible property, income and estate tax benefits; and steps involved in granting a conservation easement. will also discuss on-going work to develop additional educational resources that may be adapted to other states. Participants in this presentation should have a better understanding of conservation easements as well as ideas that might be used in educational programming.

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For more information about the conference, contact the conference co-chairs: Cindy Bigger, cbigger@umn.edu, (888) 241-0843, or Rick Maurer, richard.maurer@uky.edu, (859) 257-7582.

For questions, comments or concerns about the 2006 NACDEP Conference website, contact emilye@srdc.msstate.edu.