Stewardship Program & Responsibilities

Landowner Stewardship:

As the owner of your land, it is essential to devise a comprehensive management plan for perpetually stewarding your property. Stewardship, in its broadest sense, entails efforts to maintain or enhance the ecological processes and functions of the landscape. When stewarding land, the focus is on conserving key values that originally motivated its protection.

Given the dynamic nature of land, management plans must remain adaptable to changing conditions and evolving knowledge, especially in light of the impacts of a changing climate. Discover how your land trust can assist you in formulating a stewardship plan to ensure the perpetual protection of your property.

Stewardship Functions Executed by the Land Trust:

The land trust responsible for holding the conservation easement on your property is committed to upholding the terms of the easement in perpetuity. The land trust must prepare baseline documentation upon acquiring the land.

Continuously, the land trust should fulfill the following stewardship obligations:

    • Conduct regular inspections of the property and its boundaries to identify any violations of easement terms or encroachments by adjacent landowners.

    • Document the results of the inspection.

    • Communicate with landowners at least annually, providing a summary of the results from the annual monitoring and fostering good relationships.

    • Promptly notify landowners of any violations of the easement terms, seeking resolution.

    • In the event that violations persist and remain unresolved in accordance with the terms stipulated in the easement, the land trust may find it necessary to initiate legal proceedings.

Effective stewardship by the land trust can yield numerous positive outcomes, including:

  • Safeguarding and improving the conservation values of the property.

  • Establishing a sound, responsible public image for the land trust, thereby enhancing support for its conservation efforts.

  • Sustaining a positive relationship with donors that may lead to additional gifts.

  • Encouraging others to contribute funds, land, and conservation easements to support the land trust’s mission.