Zoning for Conservation Easements

Conservation easements have proliferated across the United States. These private agreements have profound impacts on local land use and are supported by general subsidies from the public, but are generally not connected in any way to local land use plans or zoning ordinances. This article proposes that conservation easements be treated like any other land use and incorporated into land use planning processes. Conservation easements should be allowed of right in some areas, and prohibited in others.