Private Landowners Can Help Protect and Ensure the Integrity of North Carolina's Natural Areas
 
Be an ecologically responsible land owner 
          - Limit pesticide use
          - Minimize storm water runoff
          - Remove invasive exotic plants from your property
          - Use native plants when landscaping
          - Set an example for others through your actions
 
Protect your land through:
  • Conservation easements

    • Voluntary legal agreement between land owner and conservation organization (land trust or government agency) that permanently limits some of the land's uses.
  • Outright land donation

    • Land is donated to a land trust or government agency.
  • Donation of undivided partial interest land

    • Interests in land are donated to land trust or public agency over several years until the organization has full ownership.
  • Donation of land by will

    • Land is donated to land trust or agency through the owner's will.
  • Donation of remainder interest in land with reserved life estate

    • Land is donated to a land trust or agency, but the owner continues to live there.
  • Bargain sale of land

    • Land is sold to a land trust or agency for a price below fair market value.
  • Lease

    • Land is leased for a specified number of years to a land trust, agency, or individual with restrictions placed on how the land can be used.
  • Mutual covenant

    • A group of landowners agree to place restriction on the uses of their land. May not involve a land trust or government agency.