Conservation easements are one of the most powerful ways a private landowner can leave a land conservation legacy for the future generations. Easements are voluntary, permanent, legal agreements entered into by a landowner and a land trust, for the purpose of specifying development and land use restrictions that will protect the property’s open space values. A variety of important landscape features and values can be protected by conservation easements, such as natural areas and important habitat, water resources, scenic areas, or working lands such as farms and managed forests. Every conservation easement document is unique, tailored to the specific characteristics of each property.

Over the years, The Catskill Center has worked closely with the landowners to create conservation easements for the protection of their lands.  The Catskill Center is sponsor member of the Land Trust Alliance (LTA).  We have adopted the latest Standards and Practices for land trusts, as administered by LTA. Today, we act as an intermediary between interested landowners and local land trusts throughout the Catskill Mountain Region. 

>THE CATSKILL CENTER’S LAND CONSERVATION HISTORY

To date The Catskill Center has directly or indirectly helped to protect over 18,000 acres of land in the seven-county area of the region. This has been accomplished through the use of conservation easements; preserve ownership, and transfers of land and easements to the State and other non-profit organizations.

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