Conservation Easements

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that places specific land-use restrictions on a property according to the landowner’s express wishes. The easement stays tied to the property, allowing the property to remain in private ownership and to be used for purposes consistent with the conservation values of the property. The terms of the easement remain intact if the property is sold or bequeathed, thus requiring all future owners to abide by the terms of the agreement.

When Central Indiana Land Trust chooses to hold a conservation easement on a property, our responsibility is to monitor and ensure that the terms of the agreement are observed. Being privately owned, land protected by a conservation easement is not open to the public.

To learn more about our process for selecting properties and discuss whether a conservation easement is right for your property, contact Stephanie Paine Crossin at spainecrossin@conservingindiana.org or 317-445-5855. Click here to download a Fact Sheet about Conservation Easements.

Why Work with CILTI?

By donating or selling land to the Central Indiana Land Trust, or by creating a conservation easement, you get the peace of mind of knowing that the land will be protected now and into the future. Through any of these options, the Central Indiana Land Trust can assist in the conservation of forests, wetlands, prairie, wildlife habitats, and farmland and protect the land’s natural integrity and scenic beauty. Once protection is in place, the Central Indiana Land Trust will provide management and monitoring to ensure that the lands remain in a natural state in perpetuity.