An Analysis of the Use of Conservation Easements in Farmland Preservation.

摘要

This study provides preliminary support for several best management practices for the use of conservation easements in farmland preservation with a specific focus on the Massachusetts Agricultural Preservation restriction (APR) program. Preservation goals are being overly affected by public preference, which is often inaccurate about what farmland preservation can impact (Duke & Aull-Hyde, 2002). Farmland preservation programs need to use more and higher quality data when deciding which farms to preserve (Stroms, Kreitler, & Davis, 2011). Interagency collaboration can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of farmland preservation (Maine Coast Heritage Trust, 2006).;The Massachusetts APR program has strengthened their restriction by including a right of first refusal (ROFR) and option at agricultural value (OPAV) clause, and a farming requirement in the conservation easement. Having an exclusions on preserved properties may create problems with accurately assessing the value of the development rights.