Land Conservancy

Since time immemorial, Tribal Nations have maintained deep connections to the land and water. Tribal lifeways are rooted in these places, sustain communities through food, recreation, and cultural connection. However, centuries of land privatization have created barriers to maintaining these connections, leaving legal rights to harvest foods and maintain traditions intact while physical access is often blocked.

Conservation easements can help bridge this gap by protecting natural features while creating pathways for Tribal access. 

A conservation easement is a legal agreement that permanently protects the natural features of your land while allowing you to keep ownership. You can still sell the property, donate it, or pass it on to family members. The easement limits certain types of development and land use to protect forests, shorelines, wetlands, and other natural areas. A land conservancy or similar organization holds the easement and helps ensure that its terms are followed.

A conservation easement can also define access rights, explaining who may enter or use the property and for what purposes. Any access provisions should be clearly described and designed to support the property's conservation purposes.