Pathway 7.

Carbon Capture and Negative Emissions → Forestry

7.4.8 Protecting Forests through Conservation Easements

LPDD Recommendation: “Congress could create or extend existing conservation easement programs, perhaps targeting places that show high forest carbon sequestration potential.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Local governments could assist the use of conservation easements for afforestation through dedicated taxes and bond funds directed at acquisition of conservation easements.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Private landowners could easily draft conservation easements to encourage forest management for carbon capture.”

9 Resources Found, Displaying 1 thru 9

LPDD Model Grant: Conservation Easement with Declaration of Covenants

Jurisdiction: States and State Governments, Local Governments, Private Entities

This Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants was developed by the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, and adapted by our team to enhance terms that promote biologic carbon sequestration.

North Carolina Executive Order on Conservation and Reforestation

Jurisdiction: States and State Governments

Sets statewide targets for governments and private land-protection groups by 2040 to both “permanently conserve” 1 million acres of forests and wetlands and to restore 1 million new acres of similar lands.

The Inflation Reduction Act

Jurisdiction: Congress

Wide-reaching law touching on myriad sectors and sources of emissions, and, according to most estimates, makes the goal of reducing economy-wide emissions 40% over 2005 levels by 2030 attainable.

New Mexico’s Conservation Executive Order (2021)

Jurisdiction: States and State Governments

Aims to set aside 30 percent of the state’s lands and waters by 2030 for conservation and another 20 percent for climate stabilization.

California’s Forest Legacy Program

Jurisdiction: States and State Governments

CAL FIRE purchases or accepts donations of conservation easements or fee title of productive forest lands to encourage their long-term conservation.

Forest Legacy Program

Jurisdiction: Individual Agencies, Private Entities, States and State Governments

Voluntary federal program in partnership with states that encourages and supports conservation easements and the acquisition of partial interests in privately owned forestlands.

Report, Conservation Easements and Climate Change

Jurisdiction: Local Governments, States and State Governments

Argues that current laws will need to be revised and expanded to better recognize the climate change benefits that could be achieved from placing land under conservation easements.

Report, An Introduction to Conservation Easements in the United States: A Simple Concept and Complicated Mosaic of Law

Jurisdiction: Federal Agencies and Departments, Local Governments, States and State Governments

Surveys the complex body of state and federal law that shapes the creation, funding, tax treatment, enforcement, modification, and termination of conservation easements.

National Conservation Easement Database

Jurisdiction: Federal Agencies and Departments, Local Governments, States and State Governments

The NCED contains records for more than 130,000 conservation easements encumbering more than 24 million acres of land.