Endowment Releases Second Report on Conservation Easements

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities today released a report entitled, “Considerations for Creating a National Conservation Easement Database.”  The report is a follow-up to a meeting the Endowment hosted in early 2008 (see related story dated January 8, 2008) and a report, “Forest Conservation Easements:  Who’s Keeping Track?” that served to scope interest and the potential for a national database of conservation easements to enhance conservation and economic planning and investment.  “We are very pleased to release information on this phase of work which we hope will ultimately lead to a truly comprehensive means to maintain and view conservation easements,” said Endowment President Carlton Owen.  “This is an iterative process, so we encourage comments or feedback on the report and its recommendations.  Those should be directed to the Endowment at my attention, carlton@usendowment.org “ he continued.  Cooperators in the project included the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, Land Trust Alliance, Ducks Unlimited and National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.  The next phase of the project will be a Request for Proposals to determine the methods, costs and options for developing a national conservation easement database.