When land is privately or communally-owned, the self-interests of the property owners dictate the fate of the land. For some, generating money is the top priority; for others, keeping the land intact for future generations drives all decisions. One tool serves both needs while preserving private property rights, communal sovereignty and the ability for landowners to generate income from hunting, eco-tourism and compatible agricultural production. Voluntary legal extinguishment of development

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... hts (Conservation Easements), either purchased or charitably-donated, create the financial incentives necessary to achieve lasting protection and management of habitat at large scale in perpetuity. Discussed is a brief history of conservation easements in the United States, the legal and regulatory framework necessary for success, and a summary of the dramatic increase in the use of conservation easements to achieve federal, state, local and endangered species conservation objectives.