Conservation easements are legal agreements between a landowner and a conservation agency to preserve natural features and resources on private lands. Under these agreements, landowners continue to own and manage the land which provides benefits to both the landowner and the environment.
As a landowner, you can take steps to preserve your property's conservation values, and retain use of the land, by entering into an agreement with an eligible conservation agency or level of government.
Conservation easements can be permanent or granted for a specified time. They may be applied to the entire property or just a portion containing the natural features.
A conservation easement is an option for any landowner whose land contains conservation value.
Reasons why an easement may be granted:
- To protect, enhance or restore a natural area;
- To preserve an open stretch of land; or
- To retain significant archaeological or historic features.
Benefits of Granting an Easement
Granting a conservation easement means you are preserving the environmental value of your land for the future. If the easement is granted permanently, the natural values of the property will be protected indefinitely, no matter who owns the land in the future.
If the land is sold, the conservation easement will be transferred with the property, and terms of the easement will remain.
The donation of a conservation easement may be viewed as a charitable gift by Canada Revenue Agency under the Ecological Gifts Program.
Arranging an Easement
If there is a special area on your land, such as natural prairie, wetland, aspen bluff or even an historic site, why not plan to keep it that way?
Contact an agency that best suits your conservation and land management needs.
The following agencies are able to hold conservation easements:
- All levels of government (federal, provincial, municipal)
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Meewasin Valley Authority
- Ministry of Environment
- Nature Conservancy of Canada
- Nature Saskatchewan
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
- Saskatchewan Archaeological Society
- Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association
- Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation
- Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
- Wakamow Valley Authority
- Wascana Centre Authority