Stewardship

PLC's Stewardship Roles

Stewardship of a property and its ecological riches begins the moment the project is approved by PLC’s Board and continues forever. Initially, stewardship for either PLC Easements or Preserves requires documenting the current condition of the land and its resources and securing the necessary funds to ensure its perpetual stewardship. Once the land is protected, PLC has one of three stewardship roles – Easement Steward, Permanent Steward, or Interim Steward -- depending on PLC’s interest in the property.

Easement Steward

Most often, PLC protects land with a conservation easement. The easement defines PLC’s long-term interest in the property but the landowner retains ownership. PLC’s stewardship role is one of monitoring and enforcing the easement terms carried out through:

  • Annual site visits to document the condition of the land relative to its baseline condition and the terms of the easement;
  • Annual landowner interviews to maintain communication and respond to any questions or concerns the landowner(s) may have;
  • Boundary posting to ensure that all parties know where the easement terms govern;
  • Responding to landowner requests or notices as required by the easement terms;
  • Investigating alleged violations; and
  • Resolving violations in a manner consistent with the nature of the violation and the purposes of the conservation easement.

Preserve Steward

In rare instances, PLC acquires and retains ownership of a property. When this occurs, the property becomes a PLC Preserve and PLC’s stewardship role is one of managing the land and its resources for public benefit through these activities:

  • Boundary posting to delineate boundaries with adjoining lands;
  • Building relations with adjoining landowners;
  • General property maintenance and upkeep;
  • Upholding the terms of any easements or deed restrictions related to the land and its use (Note: If public funding is used to acquire the property PLC often grants a permanent conservation easement to the public entity);
  • Development of long-term resource management plans;
  • Use of techniques such as stream stabilization, road stabilization, and habitat enhancement when appropriate; and
  • Development of community education opportunities regarding natural resource management and land conservation.

Interim Steward

When PLC acquires ownership of the land, PLC usually has a plan for its ultimate transfer to another entity -- oftentimes a local, state or federal agency committed to managing the property for the general public’s benefit. Until the property and its ongoing management are transferred to the selected entity, PLC acts as a Preserve Steward for the property. If the property is transferred without further restrictions on how it can be used, then PLC’s stewardship role ends with the transfer of the property. However, if the property is transferred with restrictions on how it can be used, then PLC will act as an Easement Steward for the property.