A conservation easement allows the landowner to retain ownership of the land, while preserving the land in a natural state in perpetuity.

In this situation, a land trust buys the property and places the ecologically important areas under a conservation easement.

Landowners may also sell or donate a conservation easement to a land trust.

Other parcels are privately owned or are in conservation easement.

The deceased's estate will be reduced by the value of the donated conservation easement.