Glossary

Annual Site Visit (Monitoring)
The conservation organization visits the site of an easement each year to be sure the terms of the agreement are being upheld.
Appraisal
An appraisal is a report provided by an independent professional who supplies a landowner or a land trust with information about the “fair market value” of property.
Bargain Sale
A sale of property or development rights to a charitable conservation organization or municipality at less than fair market value. The difference between the fair market value and the bargain sale price is a charitable donation that may reduce the donor’s income or capital gains taxes.
Baseline Documentation Report (BDR)
Information and documentation to give evidence to the condition of land at the time a conservation easement is made.
Basis
The original cost of the property.
Bequest
A gift of money, real property, or conservation easement in a person’s will which can secure conservation of property and take property value out of calculation for estate tax.
Biodiversity
The variety of ecosystems and species of plants and animals that can be found in the environment.
Capital Gains
Profit from the sale of land or other capital asset in excess of cost, or other basis.
Charitable Contribution
The tax deductible transfer of money or property to a qualified charitable organization.
Conservancy
An organization specifically set up to promote and affect conservation of natural and historic resources.
Conservation
Careful preservation and protection of resources, usually referring to land and related natural resources, includes planned management of resources to protect their future integrity and value.
Conservation Easement
A voluntary agreement between a landowner and a qualified conservation organization or municipality that protects the land for development. The landowner retains ownership and the rights to sell it or pass it to heirs. If donated for conservation purposes, an easement is a tax‐deductible charitable gift and may substantially reduce estate taxes.
Conservation Based Development
A development plan for a property that frequently incorporates the use of conservation easements and permits landowners to undertake a specified and limited amount of future building or development that does not interfere with the land’s conservation value.
Conservation Values
Wildlife habitat, open space, historic, or recreational resources. For example, land may have a high conservation value if it contains habitat for endangered species or if it has open space in a highly developed area.
Deed Restriction
A written stipulation contained within a deed that restricts certain future uses of the property generally inserted at the time of transfer. A deed restriction may include restrictions similar to those contained within a conservation easement. However, enforcement may only be carried out by the prior owner or other parties to the transaction and the restrictions may be canceled at any time by mutual written agreement.
Donor
A person who makes a charitable contribution to a qualified organization.
Ecosystem
All of the factors that allow a healthy environment to function; the complex relationships among an area’s resources, habitats and residents. An ecosystem may include people, wildlife, fish, trees, water and several other living and non-living elements.
Ecotourism
Nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable. Ecotourism often involves hiking, kayaking, and bird watching among others.
Endowment
A permanent stewardship fund established to support costs of maintaining a property or defending and monitoring a conservation easement. Permanence is assured by restricting withdrawals from the principal and relying on investment income for annual cost.
Environmental Impact
A change in the environment that could have a negative effect on the ecosystem. Land trusts try to prevent environmental impacts by conserving sensitive lands.
Estate Taxes
The combined state and federal taxes levied against one’s total estate including real property at death, payable within nine months and before distribution to the heirs.
Family Limited Partnership
A form of ownership that can be used to transfer land and other assets from one generation to another. It reduces the total value of the asset, thereby reducing estate taxes.
Fee Simple Donation
Transfer of a property by deeding it directly to a charitable organization for conservation or other purposes. Tax benefits may apply to the donor.
Gift by Devise
A gift of land through a person’s will.
Grantee
One who receives gifts, rights or property. Often, a land trust or government agency is the “grantee” of an easement.
Grantor
One who gives gifts, rights or property, usually the landowner.
IRS Form 8283
The form filed with the Internal Revenue Service by a donor to report information about non-cash contributions (e.g., land and conservation easements) in excess of $5,000 for which the donor claims a charitable deduction. The donee organization completes a portion of this Form acknowledging receipt of the contribution.
Land Donation
An outright donation of land to a municipality or a qualified conservation organization permanently protects land from development, provides the donor with a charitable gift income tax deduction and a reduction in estate taxes.
Legal Defense Fund
A part of the endowment fund that is designated for any legal action required to enforce an easement. This is usually a fixed cost.
Limited Development Conservation Plan
This is the subdivision of land on a reduced-density basis that provides income to the landowner while protecting the natural 
resources of the land. Voluntary reduced density provides a charitable gift that can offset capital gains tax and may expedite the municipality’s approval process. At the same time, infrastructure costs of the development are reduced.
Monitoring
The conservation organization visits the site of an easement each year to be sure the terms of the agreement are being upheld.
Monitoring Report
Documentation of the results from a monitoring visit on a Conservation Easement.
Mutual Covenants
Written commitments regarding land use contained in a deed or other form of agreement and exchanged among neighboring landowners.
Open space
Undeveloped land or common areas that are reserved for parks, walking paths, or other natural uses.
Public Benefit(s)
The values (scenic, recreational, ecological, cultural, historic or spiritual) that people derive from a protected property.
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
A landowner voluntarily agrees to sell all, or a portion of, the development rights on farmland to a municipality. The landowner retains the right to farm, sell, and pass the land to heirs. The sale provides cash to the landowner, reduces estate taxes, but may be subject to capital gains tax.
Qualified Charitable Organization
An organization that has been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) organization for the public benefit.
Reserved Life Estate
A gift of a residence with a reserved life estate to a charitable organization allows the donor to continue living on the land throughout their lifetime. On the donor’s demise, the organization may sell the real estate and use the proceeds to carry out its charitable mission.
Right-of-First-Refusal
A recorded agreement that requires landowners, if they receive an offer to buy their land, to allow the land trust to match the offered price.
Riparian Habitat
The transition zone between aquatic and upland habitat. Riparian habitat lies adjacent to rivers and streams with a differing density, diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species relative to nearby uplands.
Smart Growth
A planning concept that strives to create communities with walkable neighborhoods, mixed land use – including open space, a central business district, and an adequate public transportation system. Through better planning, smart growth allows for the needs of all community members to be met, while protecting the necessary natural areas for a healthy lifestyle.
Stewardship
Caring for and managing resources with good conservation practices to ensure their protection; a philosophy of land management which focuses on caring and preservation.
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
Development rights are transferred from one property in a sending district to another property(ies) in a receiving district(s).
Watershed
The entire area of land that collects and drains water (from snow and rain) into a single river or similar body of water.
Wetlands
Lands that are normally saturated with water, such as swamps, marshes, and bogs. These areas often host plants and animals adapted to life in very wet conditions.