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How ORLT Conserves LandOverview of Conservation Methods And ORLT Projects To DateORLT is organized to help landowners and communities find ways to permanently protect land. Permanent protection means to prevent undesirable or inappropriate development in the future. Each prospective site must be evaluated separately in order to determine what aspects, features or conditions of the land are important to protect and how that can be accomplished and managed. Protection of land can include productive uses when they are compatible to the conservation objectives. For example, conservation easements can protect working farms and forests forever and still achieve certain environmental goals and values. Residential use of land can also be compatible with conservation and open space preservation as long as commercial development and subdivisions are clearly restricted. Choosing a method of protection involves considering a number of factors and objectives. Land with fragile and important natural values require more limited use and more careful management. Designing the most appropriate method of protection is worked out with the landowner through extensive discussions and understanding of their needs, desires and objectives. When we understand every facet of the land, the landowner’s situation and the conservation organizations objectives and capacities are understood, then a plan can be initiated. With everything considered and included, each project becomes a conservation "package" – a unique blend of purposes and methods to meet the needs of both the landowner and the land and its future management requirements. ORLT’s job is to weave the possibilities together into a conservation project. The way land is protected falls into three primary methods which are flexible enough to accommodate a variety of situations.
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