- Determine both the legal description and physical boundaries of each property or conservation agreement.
- If a conservation agreement contains restrictions or permitted rights that are specific to certain zones or areas within the property, include the locations of these areas in the agreement document so that they can be identified in the field.
Background
It is important for a land trust to know the boundaries of its fee holdings and conservation agreements. The best way to secure this information is through a survey, but this is not always practical on large parcels or in inaccessible locations. In all instances, a good property description is essential. Accurate descriptions of any special use areas or zones within a conservation agreement are also essential. These may be building envelopes, natural areas, riparian corridors, or other restricted zones. The ability to identify these areas in the field is necessary for the future enforcement of activities in these zones. The conservation agreement and supporting documentation should provide enough detail so that these areas can be clearly identified on the ground by the landowner and conservation agreement monitors.