The 3RLT's role is to help the landowners understand how to preserve their land for the future. The tool used to achieve this goal is a conservation easement. Conservation Easements are a legal means by which landowners voluntarily set permanent limitations on the future use of their property. 
The Trust helps the landowner develop the language for the easement according to their wishes and to guide them through the process of inventory and consensus. This process is usually gradual and may take several years.
The landowner retains ownership and can still sell, but the owner and all future owners may only use the land within the restrictions set by the conservation easement.
The versatility of conservation easements allows for a wide range uses. Landowners design their own requirements from a "forever wild" easement to an easement that permits limited residential development, farming, managed commercial timber harvesting, etc.
The stipulations associated with the easement are legally binding and are monitored by the Trust forever. The Trust has established an endowment fund and raises money through memberships, a raffle, grants, and landowner contributions. Landowner contributions are negotiated on a case by case basis.
Donations of land may be accepted by the Trust, which will manage the property in a manner consistent with the wishes of the donor and with the Trust's philosophy of resource protection. Donations may be outright, or may be inserted in wills or other legal documents.
For more information, please contact us.