Conservation Easements

The Essex Region Conservation Foundation has been fortunate to receive donations of land or conservation easements from generous landowners wishing to ensure a legacy of a cleaner and healthier environment that is protected for generations to come. The Conservation Foundation can accept donations of land or donations of conservation easements. A gift may also be certified as an ecological gift by Environment Canada,allowing for enhanced income tax benefits. An ecological gift of a conservation easement allows landowners to protect the ecologically sensitive features of their property in perpetuity, retain title, and be eligible for enhanced income tax benefits.

The value of the donation for receipt purposes is based on the appraised value as determined by an independent AACI-certified appraisal. For donations of conservation easements, the "before-and-after" method of valuation is applied, meaning that the land is valued both before and after the restrictions are imposed and the easement value is the difference.

For more information on donating land, please contact the Foundation directly at 1-888-487-4760 or by email at foundation@erca.org.

To learn more about having your gift certified by Environment Canada, click here or call us at the number above.