Browse our Introductory Articles

Ranching as a Conservation Strategy - Can Old Ranchers Save the New West?

By: Mark W. Brunson and Lynn Huntsinger
Working ranches are often promoted as means of private rangeland conservation because they can safeguard ecosystem services, protect open space, and maintain traditional ranching culture. https://www.landcan.org/article/Ranching-as-a-Conservation-Strategy--Can-Old-Ranchers-Save-the-New-West/265/

 

Agricultural Conservation and the Next Farm Bill

By: Megan Stubbs;
Reauthorization of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 farm bill) failed to pass in the 112th Congress, leaving it to the 113th Congress to continue the farm bill debate.https://www.landcan.org/article/Agricultural-Conservation-and-the-Next-Farm-Bill/903/

 

Iowa Nutrient Management Conservation Practice Standard

By: USDA - NRCS
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released the 2013 Iowa Nutrient Management Conservation Practice Standard – the guiding document for implementing nutrient management plans for Iowa farmers.https://www.landcan.org/article/Iowa-Nutrient-Management-Conservation-Practice-Standard/1666/

 

Drafting Conservation Easements

By: Jessica Jay
Drafting the conservation easement influences everything about the protected property after the easement’s grant: it guides the landowner’s use of the protected property, it guides Land Trust’s monitoring and stewardship of the property, and it guides Land Trusts enforcement of the conservation easement against the original landowner and all future landowners, forever. https://www.landcan.org/article/Drafting-Conservation--Easements/1736/

 

Guide for Selection of Conservation Practices to Support Organic Operations Matrix

By: USDA - NRCS
To help provide better understanding of how EQIP and NOP (National Organic Program) work together to help organic producers, this guide compares the NOP requirements, OSP (Organic System Plan), and organic certification with benefits of EQIP-funded conservation practices. https://www.landcan.org/article/Guide-for-Selection-of-Conservation-Practices-to-Support-Organic-Operations-Matrix/1801/

 

FAQ - Conservation Planning with Transitioning to Organic Producers - Guidelines for NRCS Field Conservationists

By: USDA-NRCS
Gives NOP and NRCS definitions of organic-related terms, answers questions about the Initiative, CAP 138 and more. https://www.landcan.org/article/FAQ--Conservation-Planning-with-Transitioning-to-Organic-Producers--Guidelines-for-NRCS-Field-Conservationists/1802/

 

Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse in Utah

By: Utah Department of Natural Resources
Utah’s Conservation Plan for Greater Sage-grouse is designed to protect high-quality habitat, enhance impaired habitat and restore converted habitat to support conservation and restoration of the portion of the greater sage-grouse population within the State. https://www.landcan.org/article/Conservation-Plan-for-Greater-Sagegrouse-in-Utah/2214/

 

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Public Lands Council Rancher Conservation Summit

By: Amos Eno
This is the speech I gave at the NCBA Rancher Conservation Summit in February, 2009.  It gives my perspective on how the internet can be an effective vehicle to bring the message of sucessful ranchland conservation to the public at large with no boundaries and no attached bias to promote ranching with rancher developed and reviewed conservation successes. https://www.landcan.org/article/National-Cattlemens-Beef-Association-Public-Lands-Council-Rancher-Conservation-Summit/2489/

 

Uniform Conservation Easement Act (with 2007 Amendments)

By: National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
The Act enables durable restrictions and affirmative obligations to be attached to real property to protect natural and historic resources. https://www.landcan.org/article/Uniform-Conservation-Easement-Act-with-2007-Amendments/2899/

 

Using the Conservation Tax Incentive

By: Land Trust Alliance
This short brochure summarizes the conservation easement tax incentive and provides answers to some frequently asked questions. For the late ...https://www.landcan.org/article/Using-the-Conservation-Tax-Incentive/3185/

 

Western Governors’ Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative

By: Western Governors' Association
The Western Governors’ Species Conservation and Endangered Species Act Initiative was launched by WGA Chairman and Wyoming Gov. https://www.landcan.org/article/Western-Governors-Species-Conservation-and-Endangered-Species-Act-Initiative/3299/

 

Cooperative Conservation - Determinants of Landowner Engagement in Conserving Endangered Species

By: Megan E. Hansen
This paper analyzes surveys of private landowners to identify factors that determine landowner engagement in the conservation of endangered species. https://www.landcan.org/article/Cooperative-Conservation--Determinants-of-Landowner-Engagement-in-Conserving-Endangered-Species/3331/

 

How to receive conservation assistance from NRCS

By: USDA-NRCS
Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease? NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. https://www.landcan.org/article/How-to-receive-conservation-assistance-from-NRCS/3466/

 

Conservation Easement Reform: As Maine Goes Should the Nation Follow

By: Jeff Pidot
This article explores how the Reform Law has worked and whether it makes sense as a model for other states in response to weaknesses in their enabling laws. https://www.landcan.org/article/Conservation-Easement-Reform-As-Maine-Goes-Should-the-Nation-Follow/3507/

 

Amending or Terminating Conservation Easements: The New Hampshire Experience

By: Terry M. Knowles
Since their release in 2010, the Guidelines have been useful to the land trust community and to the New Hampshire Attorney General in facilitating a thorough and efficient review of proposed amendments to, as well as partial extinguishments of, conservation easements. https://www.landcan.org/article/Amending-or-Terminating-Conservation-Easements-The-New-Hampshire-Experience/3513/

 

Enforcing Perpetual Conservation Easements Against Third-Party Violators

By: Jessica Jay
Among the most daunting challenges the holder of a perpetual conservation easement faces is the enforcement of the easements it holds, for all time, and against all violators.& ...https://www.landcan.org/article/Enforcing-Perpetual-Conservation-Easements-Against-ThirdParty-Violators/3514/

 

Understanding When Perpetual Is Not Forever: An Update To The Challenge Of Changing Conditions, Amendment, And Termination Of Perpetual Conservation Easements, And Response To Ann Taylor Schwing

By: Jessica Jay
Rarely in the legal discourse is an author afforded the opportunity to revisit and update a recently published law review article and to correct misunderstandings of a response thereto. https://www.landcan.org/article/Understanding-When-Perpetual-Is-Not-Forever-An-Update-To-The-Challenge-Of-Changing-Conditions-Amendment-And-Termination-Of-Perpetual-Conservation-Easements-And-Response-To-Ann-Taylor-Schwing/3512/

 

Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands

By: Intermountain West Joint Venture
The purpose of our Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands effort is to catalyze proactive, voluntary, and community-led sagebrush rangeland conservation – expanding success across private and public lands. https://www.landcan.org/article/Partnering-to-Conserve-Sagebrush-Rangelands/3480/

 

Perpetuity is Forever, Almost Always: Why It Is Wrong To Promote Amendment and Termination of Perpetual Conservation Easements

By: Ann Taylor Schwing
When a landowner makes a charitable gift of a conservation easement to a nonprofit organization or government entity and elects to seek a federal tax deduction, both landowner and easement holder are subject to federal tax laws and regulations governing the creation, monitoring, amendment, and extinguishment of the easement. https://www.landcan.org/article/Perpetuity-is-Forever-Almost-Always-Why-It-Is-Wrong-To-Promote-Amendment-and-Termination-of-Perpetual-Conservation-Easements/3511/

 

Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon - A Plan to Maintain and Enhance Populations and Habitat

By: Christian Hagen
Plan describes Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s management of greater sage-grouse and provides guidance to public land management agencies and land managers for sage-grouse conservation. https://www.landcan.org/article/Greater-SageGrouse-Conservation-Assessment-and-Strategy-for-Oregon--A-Plan-to-Maintain-and-Enhance-Populations-and-Habitat/2245/