How We Work

The Legacy Land Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable, non-governmental organization.  We preserve land by negotiating legal agreements, known as conservation agreements, with private landowners.  We also occasionally accept donations of land.  We operate and maintain five nature preserves, on land donated to the Conservancy, which are free and open to the public.

All conservation agreements with the Legacy Land Conservancy have some important things in common.  Our agreements are:

• Permanent.  A conservation agreement with the Conservancy runs with the land forever – no matter who owns it or for how long.  All future landowners are bound to follow the terms of the agreement.
• Private.  Protecting your land does not mean turning your land into a public park.  After you have signed your conservation agreement, you still have the right to enjoy your private property, sell it, or bequeath it to whomever you wish.  If the property is a farm, you can continue to farm it.  At the same time, you also agree to follow a set of restrictions preserving what is on the land.
• Flexible.  Each conservation agreement is tailored to the specific property it is designed to protect.  From the initial drafting of the agreement all the way through to implementation and further education, we’re here to help you achieve your land protection goals while doing right by the land.
• Voluntary.  As a private non-profit charity, the Legacy Land Conservancy only negotiates agreements with willing landowners.
• Enforced.  When you sign a conservation agreement, it’s not the end of your relationship with the Conservancy, it’s the beginning.  We’re your conservation partner.  We visit each site annually to ensure each agreement is being followed.
• Approved.  The Legacy Land Conservancy was one of the first 39 land trusts in the country to be accredited.  The Land Trust Accreditation Commission Seal, which must be renewed every five years, ensures that when we work with you, we are meeting national quality standards in protecting land the right way – carefully, thoroughly, and ethically.

Learn more about the land protection process.