Conservation Resources for Landowners

Our mission is to promote the protection of endangered species, wetlands, farms, forests, working lands and other open spaces by empowering landowners to make smart decisions about their properties. LandCAN is a comprehensive resource for farmers, foresters, ranchers and other landowners who wish to make more responsible, sustainable decisions about the use and future of their land. 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 ]

Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnerships help partners and producers work together to protect wetland ecosystems on working lands.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $17 million for conservation partners to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is prioritizing proposals that focus on assisting historically underserved producers conserving wetlands. Proposals from partners are due August 15, 2021.

Through WREP projects, eligible conservation partners protect, restore and enhance high-priority wetlands on agriculture lands. WREP enables effective integration of wetland restoration on working agricultural landscapes, providing meaningful benefits to farmers and ranchers who enroll in the program and to the communities where the wetlands exist.

Eligible partners include Tribes, state and local governments and non-government organizations. WREP partners are required to contribute a financial or technical assistance fund match. WREP funding is for fiscal year 2022 which begins on October 1, 2021.

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 Connection

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.

Carbon Sequestration

Information on Conservation Markets, Carbon Credits, Mitigation Banking and the resources and professionals to help.

Article Library

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

Conservation Success Stories

Highlighting stories of conservation success for landowners, farmers, foresters, recreational guides and individuals

Land Conservation Toolbox

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

Wetlands and Wildlife Conservation

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

Conservation Tax Center

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

Conservation Newsroom

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

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 Yarmouth, 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 provide more comprehensive conservation resources for Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia. We also have created the Habitat Conservation Assistance Netwotrk, a site designed to help private landowners manage candidate, threatened, and endangered species habitat on their land.

How You can Help

You can support the LandCAN by making a tax-deductible contribution that 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!