Frequently Asked Questions - Land Conservation

A land conservancy or land trust is a nonprofit organization that actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition. Land trusts represent a vibrant, national movement of citizen-led conservation that has experienced great success. With over 1,700 organizations nationwide protecting over 37 million acres, land trusts are critical for ensuring access to pure water, clean air, safe food, and places to experience the healing properties of nature.

The Southern Oregon Land Conservancy was organized as a charitable organization under federal tax law in 1978. We are directly involved in conserving land for its natural, recreational, scenic, and/or agricultural values. We can purchase land for permanent protection, but we mostly use one of several other methods: accept donations of land or the funds to purchase land, accept a bequest, or accept the donation of a conservation easement, which permanently limits future uses that can take place on the land. In some instances, we may also purchase conservation easements.

No, we are an independent organization that works with landowners who are interested in protecting natural areas. But we do often work cooperatively with government agencies on shared conservation goals.

In a way, yes, but we have a different focus. The Nature Conservancy is an international organization that protects lands in priority areas based on biodiversity. We work exclusively in Southern Oregon to protect a variety of land types that reflect community values. We are completely separate institutions, though we occasionally collaborate on projects in Southern Oregon.

Not usually. Using a tool called a conservation easement, we work with willing landowners to place certain limitations on the use of the landowner’s property. A conservation easement (also called a conservation agreement) is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values.

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Over thirty years! The Southern Oregon Land Conservancy formed in 1978 and was the first regional land trust in Oregon. Since then, we have been responsible for placing permanent protections on over 8,300 acres of important open spaces and working lands in Southern Oregon. For many years, the Land Conservancy was run by a dedicated group of volunteers. In 1991, the first executive director was hired and today we have a staff of five people to carry out our strategic mission.

The Southern Oregon Land Conservancy has had over 30 years of success in land conservation transactions with landowners and communities. Our staff has the expertise to help landowners achieve their conservation vision, and we have the resources to ensure that our efforts are permanent.
Donations of land, conservation easements or money may qualify you for income or gift tax savings. Moreover, because we are a private nonprotift organization, we can be more flexible and creative than public agencies - and can act more quickly - in saving land.