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There's a surprising number of ways to protect land through voluntary agreements. Because open space provides such enormous benefits, the federal tax code encourages these actions with attractive incentives. Our role is to share information with landowners about their options, and collaborate with them on any desired arrangements.
- Though we're interested in working with landowners throughout Lake County, we seek partners in several key areas where it's still possible to create wide stretches of unbroken countryside.
- While the Forest Preserve District is effective by focusing on large, connected tracts, we complement that effort by working with a wide range of parcel sizes.
- One increasingly popular option is the conservation easement—a legal agreement that places some limitations on the land's use. No matter how many times the land might be sold, those limitations remain in force. Individualized for each landowner, this extremely flexible option allows the owner to retain ownership and privacy.
- Other options are to donate or bequeath property to a land trust organization such as ours, or to sell it in a bargain sale. Each option has different benefits, depending on the landowner's circumstances.
Whichever option works best, the Conservancy can help by being the partner that makes it possible. We work hard to understand each landowner's needs and wishes, and to create an accommodating plan. The result is a win-win situation – the landowners know their cherished property will always remain undeveloped and Lake County retains precious open lands.
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