Resources for Private Landowners

The LandCAN is a comprehensive resource for farmers, foresters, ranchers and other private landowners who wish to make more responsible, sustainable decisions about the use and future of their properties. To enable this, we offer a variety of resources on private land ownership, including informative articles and a searchable directory of conservation programs and professionals throughout the country.

Follow the links below to find out more about our various information resources, which cover private sector conservation products and professionals. LandCAN covers many topics in conservation; from carbon credits and conservation markets to government grants and assistance programs. Don’t forget to visit our blog, too, where we go deeper into the issues that affect landowners and rural residents across the country, or subscribe to the LandCAN newsletter where we touch on the current issues in land conservation today.

What's News [ Archive ]

USDA Announces $49 Million Public-Private Investment to Improve Critical Wetlands in 12 States

Through its Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), the USDA is awarding $44.6 million to support 10 wetland enhancement projects on private and tribal agricultural lands in 12 States. The WREP is a special option under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Read the press release.

Conservation Grant & Assistance Programs

These national land conservation funding and technical assistance programs are national in scope and the majority are offered by the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service.

Conservation Yellow Pages

Let our servers do the walking to help you find local, regional or national professionals to assist you with your tax, estate, or conservation objectives.

Conservation Tax Center

Tax and Estate information and resources on: Succession Planning, Conservation Easements, Tax Credit trading and 1031 exchanges.

Article Library

Introductory and technical articles on land conservation, tax planning, estate planning, wildlife conservation, and conservation easements.

Conservation Newsroom

Up-To-Date news items and tax information in the land conservation arena, federal program updates & deadlines and the LandCAN Blog

Land Conservation Toolbox

Use the LandCAN Land and Energy Conservation Toolbox as your resource for land conservation education and resources.

Sustainable Land Development & Management

The LandCAN was founded to help you make informed decisions about the future of your land holdings, whether they are farmland, forests, wetlands or mountain ranches.

Tree Farm Conservation and Management

Sustainable tree farming produces significant, noticeable benefits to human and environmental health.

Wetlands and Wildlife Conservation

LandCAN is home to a wealth of information about wildlife management and wetland reserve programs

Why Conservation Matters

Conservation is about more than “saving the earth” or having a “green agenda.” Rather, it’s about restoring a balance that’s being upset as people lose their connection to rural areas. What’s often lost in the drive to urbanize is the fact that forests, wetlands, mountain ranches and farms all continue to play important roles in our societies, ecosystems, and way of life. Maintaining them is essential for food security and ensuring the future availability of clean water and air. Failure to take steps now to protect these lands against responsibly calculated sprawling development can have drastic consequences.

Getting Started

As a private landowner, there are things you can do today to make a positive change in the world. These include donating a portion of your property to a land trust or easement, or working to prevent soil erosion, manage wildlife and harvest crops more responsibly on your property. Learn more by browsing our website or using the LandCAN Library to learn more about land and energy conservation. You can also use our Private Landowner Toolbox, which provides links to online apps that let you measure your carbon production, perform cost/benefit analyses and get up-to-date tax information.

Taking the Next Steps

Sustainable land conservation is not a quick fix, but rather an ongoing way of life. To ensure this work continues for years to come, consider doing advance estate planning that specifies what you want to happen to your property in the future. It’s never too early to make these important decisions — doing so can potentially save your loved ones a great hassle and expense, while also ensuring your wishes are respected. Explore your options with estate planning and management and take the first steps today.

Who We Are

The Land Conservation Assistance Network (LandCAN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Falmouth, Maine. Since 2000, we have been providing online tools for farmers, foresters, ranchers and other landowners. In addition to maintaining a national land conservation directory, we also manage virtual conservation centers for Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi and the greater Houston area and several other projects.

How You can Help

You can support the LandCAN by becoming a member or making a one-time donation. Your tax-deductible contribution supports our ongoing expenses, which include web hosting and database maintenance. Don’t forget to show your support for us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, too!