A conservation agreement is a voluntary, binding legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently protects land by limiting present and future uses.

Conservation agreements are both flexible and lasting tools. Once the agreement has been finalized, the landowner retains ownership and use of the property within the terms of the agreement. The land trust takes responsibility for protecting the land's conservation values on into the future, beyond the tenure of the current owner.

The agreement is designed to make certain that the protection of the land is compatible with the owner's personal and financial needs. Conservation agreements that meet federal tax code requirements can provide significant income tax benefits to the owners.

More information about land trust options is available through Gathering Waters Conservancy, Wisconsin's land trust service center.