Land
Woods, Prairies, & Natural Lands
Protecting What Matters
We help local families and landowners conserve their land who wish to continue to own their land using a tool called a conservation easement or using a “life use” agreement where they donate the land to the Conservancy and continue to live on it as long as they want. There are different benefits to each approach, outlined below.
Continuing to own your land
If you wish to continue to own your land and conserve it, you may find a conservation easement a good match. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that permanently limits certain types of development to protect a property’s natural, scenic, agricultural, or cultural features. It’s a powerful tool that allows you to continue owning and using your land while ensuring it remains protected for generations to come.
Every easement is tailored to the individual landowner and property. If you farm, your easement might allow for continued agricultural use. If your land has rare wildlife habitat, your easement might focus on protecting wildlife as well as farming. The easement can apply to part or all of your property — and it does not require public access.
The easements are flexible, allowing for home-based businesses, working lands (farmland and forestry), carefully sited homesteads, and educational purposes. They can help transfer the land to the next generation and may also offer significant income tax benefits.
Conservation easements are permanent, and future owners will be bound by the agreement. This gives you peace of mind knowing it will never be overdeveloped. At HeartLands Conservancy, we hold more than 50 conservation easements across southern Illinois, protecting over 3,800 acres of farmland, forest, prairie, and wetlands.
Frequently asked questions about donating a conservation easement »
A Partnership You Can Count On
When you conserve your land, you’re not alone. We regard our conservation work as a long-term partnership with those who have conserved their land. That means we are here to answer questions throughout the year as well as when we visit the property to ensure the terms of the agreement are upheld.
Financial Benefits
Conservation Can Offer Meaningful Tax Savings
If you choose to donate a conservation easement, you may qualify for significant tax benefits—especially if your easement protects important farmland, habitat, or open space.
The value of the donation is generally the difference between your land’s value before and after the easement. As long as your easement meets certain IRS requirements, it may qualify as a tax-deductible charitable donation.
Federal Tax Incentives for Easement Donations
- If you’re an individual or non-farming landowner, you may be able to deduct up to 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
- If you’re a qualified farmer or rancher (more than 50% of your income comes from agriculture), you may deduct up to 100% of your AGI.
- In both cases, any unused deduction can be carried forward for up to 16 years.
These tax incentives were made permanent by Congress and are designed to encourage voluntary land conservation.
Other Potential Benefits
- Estate Planning: An easement may reduce your land’s taxable value, which can help reduce estate taxes for your heirs.
- Property Taxes: In some areas, conservation easements may result in lower assessed land value.
- Bargain Sale: You may choose to sell an easement for less than its full value and treat the difference as a charitable gift.
It’s important to talk with a qualified tax advisor and appraiser. We’re happy to be part of the conversation and work with your advisors to ensure your conservation plan works for you.
Learn more about the tax benefits of donated conservation easements »
Land Donations
A Gift that Lasts Generations
If you’re considering a lasting gift, donating your land outright can be a powerful act of conservation — and it may also offer meaningful tax benefits. In many cases, a land donation qualifies as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes, based on the full appraised value of the property. This can help reduce your taxable income and potentially lower capital gains exposure.
Donation of Land
HeartLands Conservancy has been honored to receive land donations across southern Illinois. Depending on your wishes and the land’s characteristics, we may care for the land ourselves as a nature preserve, use it for conservation farming and lease it to another farmer (using the proceeds to fund additional conservation work), or protect it and resell it to support other projects.
Donation of Land, with Life Use
If you’re not ready to leave the land just yet, you can also donate it while reserving the right to live on and use it for the rest of your life. This is called a reserved life estate, and it ensures your connection to the land continues during your lifetime. It may also offer financial advantages, including a federal income tax deduction based on the appraised value of the future gift. For many landowners, it’s also a helpful tool for estate planning, simplifying the transfer of property and reducing the taxable value of the estate.
Learn more about gifts of real estate »
We’re happy to work with you and your advisors to explore whether this option is a good fit for you and your goals.
Learn more about the tax benefits of donating land »
Frequently asked questions about donating land »
Land Acquisition
Protecting Special Places—Together
There are times when land conservation is best achieved through purchase—either full-value or bargain sale—especially when land faces urgent threats or has exceptional conservation importance
When HeartLands Conservancy acquires land, it is either:
- Managed directly as a public conservation area, usually for wildlife and recreation, or
- Transferred to a public agency for long-term protection and care.
There is limited funding available to purchase land. We therefore only pursue acquisitions when we feel we can raise the funds. Sometimes there is foundation funding. Other times the community may donate funding to make a project possible. If your property might be a good fit for this approach, or if you’re not sure, we’re happy to talk it through.
Land Management Assistance
Helping You Take Care of the Land You Love
Land conservation doesn’t stop at protection—it continues through stewardship. Whether you’re managing woods, prairie, wetlands, or farmland, you may face challenges like invasive species, erosion, or water quality issues.
HeartLands Conservancy offers support to landowners who want to restore or enhance their land. We can:
- Provide site visits through our Conservation@Home program
- Help create management plans
- Recommend trusted contractors
- Oversee projects when needed
Many landowners also join our volunteer efforts to learn techniques and connect with others who care about the land. Whether you’re taking your first steps or looking for guidance on complex issues, we’re here to help.
We’d love to discuss options with you
If you’d like to discuss your conservation options and what matters most to you, please give Anna McAtee a call or send her an email at an*********@*******************cy.org | (618) 566-4451 ext 23.