Protection Options & Process
The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy focuses its land preservation efforts on land with exceptional natural, recreational, or scenic resources.
Central Pennsylvania Conservancy Priorities
- Water resources
- Wildlife habitat
- Large undeveloped lands
- Agricultural soils
- Scenic open space
- Public recreation
- Agricultural lands
Though CPC may accept properties which contain farmland, each County within CPC’s focus area has its own Agricultural Preservation Program which may be a more effective option for landowners interested in preserving large tracts of farmed land.
Our Landscapes - Kittatinny Ridge & South Mountain
In addition to property-specific conservation priorities, CPC also considers the landscapes within which potential projects are located. Two landscapes of national and statewide importance are located within central Pennsylvania; the Kittatinny Ridge and South Mountain.
Though all land within CPC’s focal service area will be considered for preservation if a landowner demonstrates an interest in preserving it, our criteria for ranking and prioritizing projects favors properties located in either of these two landscapes.
Land Preservation Process
The Central Pennsylvania Conservancy has been working with landowners to preserve land throughout the south-central region for over 40 years. We know from experience that there are no one-size-fits-all options for conservation. This being the case, we utilize a number of unique conservation tools to preserve land for public benefit; though these methods typically fall into two categories: land acquisition and conservation easements
In some circumstances, landowners may choose to sell their property to a land trust so that it may be preserved in perpetuity for future generations. If the landowner expects to be paid full market value for their property, the sale is usually predicated on a lengthy fundraising process which may sometimes take years. If landowners opt to part with their property for less than the appraised value through a bargain sale, this may reduce the timeline for transfer. In either case the land trust must perform its own due diligence before the sale, including title work, site visits, surveys, and environmental assessments.
Ordinarily, land acquired in this way will be transferred to a public entity following acquisition, such as the Bureau of Forestry or the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Public entities such as these own thousands of acres of public land throughout Pennsylvania and employ entire teams of outdoors people to ensure these public spaces are safe and accessible, so CPC collaborates with them to hold protected lands so that its staff can focus on exploring new land preservation opportunities and maintaining its public preserves.
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently limits certain uses of a property to protect its natural, scenic, or historic values. The landowner keeps ownership and may continue to live on, sell, or pass down the property, but all future owners are bound by the easement’s restrictions, which prevent development, subdivision, and commercial or industrial use.
The Conservancy works with each landowner to balance personal property goals with long-term conservation. Typical easement restrictions may limit building locations and types, prohibit subdivision and mineral rights severance, restrict land uses to protect conservation values, and limit tree removal without a management plan.
Conservation easements do not require public access unless the landowner agrees to it.
Donating a conservation easement may offer financial benefits, including federal income tax deductions and estate tax reductions. Because easements lower a property’s market value, they can reduce taxable estates and qualify as charitable contributions. Landowners should consult a tax advisor to understand potential tax benefits.