There are various ways of protecting land. The majority of landowners choose to protect their land through the use of conservation easements. A conservation easement is a written agreement between a landowner and conservation agency, or land trust, which ensures that a property will not be developed beyond an agreed upon limit, or perhaps not at all. The land remains in private ownership while the Lower Shore Land Trust assures that the terms of the agreement are forever. 

 

Conservation easements can be tailored to the needs and desires of a property owner to control the future use, appearance and character of the land. Landowners can continue to farm, harvest timber, and hunt, as well as reserve building rights for future use. The Lower Shore Land Trust offers individual landowners planning assistance as they consider the use of a conservation easement or other land conservation techniques.

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To get involved in land conservation, email Jared Parks, Director of Land Programs, at jparks@lowershorelandtrust.org, or call 443-234-5587

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We offer a wide range of services to meet every type of need.

Wildlife habitat has been fragmented and degraded over the last several decades, in part from development and changes in farming practices. Invasive species have choked out native plant species, further reducing available habitat for many pollinators and wildlife. Grass and forested buffers along rivers, streams and agricultural ditches are critical management practices to help reduce chemicals, nutrients and sediment from impacting our waterways. Our conservation easements require buffers along waterways and many farmers and other landowners can implement these best management practices through available cost share programs. These practices benefit not only our waterways but improve habitat for much of our wildlife.

 

Pollinator conservation resources are available from USDA under the 2014 Farm Bill. Click on the link to see if technical support and cost share programs are right for you.

 

Northern Bobwhite, a once iconic bird in Maryland, has seen populations decreased to unprecedented levels. Experts point to the E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area and surrounding lands as having some of the highest populations, but restoration of hedgerows and habitat must be improved in order for the quail to survive on the lower shore.

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Contact Agricultural Outreach Specialist Beth Sheppard about habitat restoration at bsheppard@lowershorelandtrust.org or 443-234-5587

Once a property has been protected with a conservation easement, we work with the landowner to ensure the conservation values of the easement are upheld. The conservation easements can provide many benefits to the community by protecting wildlife habitat, water quality, agricultural lands, scenic landscapes as well as helping to protect our drinking water supplies.

 

Conservation easements restrict development, preserving the conservation values of our working farms and forests and natural habitat here on the lower shore.

 

Monitoring the easements is part of our work we enjoy the most. We get the chance to visit beautiful properties and hear the stories about why someone cared enough about the land to preserve it for future generations. When the land trust agrees to hold a conservation easement, we acknowledge the conservation values and we agree to ensure those values remain intact forever.

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Contact Frank Deuter at fdeuter@lowershorelandtrust.org or 443-234-5587

Join our campaign to conserve vulnerable conservation lands!

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Lower Shore Land Trust has established the Jack Burbage Conservation Land Fund in honor of his substantial gift to the organization. The Fund will be managed by the Board of Directors for the purpose of protecting and restoring vulnerable conservation lands across the Lower Shore.

Your support will enable the Lower Shore Land Trust to protect and restore land crucial to conservation when it is most vulnerable. The Jack Burbage Conservation Land Fund bridges the gap between the property sale and the timeline necessary to gather the needed resources required to permanently protect the conservation asset.

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Contact Executive Director Kate Patton for more information at kpatton@lowershorelandtrust.org or 443-234-5587