Landowners

Many landowners who own a farm, ranch, or natural area worry about the future of their land. Some want to preserve the Texas landscape, and worry it will be lost once they are no longer able to own and manage the property. Others want to keep land in agriculture for local farmers and ranchers. And many landowners want to preserve open and connected spaces to help maintain the biodiversity of the coastal prairie, provide essential wildlife habitat, and sustain a resilient landscape.

Conservation Easements

Landowners who wish to maintain ownership of the land, or eventually pass the land along to their heirs or sell to a third party, have options for conserving land through voluntary conservation easements.

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust such as Coastal Prairie Conservancy that permanently limits the use of the land to protect its conservation values. The conservation values of a property may include the natural habitats of fish, wildlife, or plants, or the preservation of open space – including farms, ranches, pasture land, or forest.

After an agreement is entered, the land trust will visit at least once a year to ensure that the terms of the agreement are being met. Conservation agreements do not require public access and the landowner will continue to own and use the land and may sell it or pass it on to heirs. The conservation easement is legally binding on all future owners so that the land will remain as a farm, ranch, or natural area forever. Each conservation easement is tailored for the property and designed to meet the needs of the individual landowner.

The value of the conservation easement is equal to the difference between the value of the property with the restrictions of a conservation agreement in place and the same property’s value without these restrictions. Oftentimes, the value of a conservation easement is greatest in areas where development pressure is most intense and lower in more remote areas. Likewise, a conservation easement that prohibits development to a greater extent will have a higher value than an easement that contains only minimal restrictions. An independent appraisal is required to confirm the values.

Conservation Easement Funding Available

Texas Coastal Prairie Initiative (TCPI) seeks landowners who want to permanently protect their farm or ranch land, wildlife habitat, and natural resources with conservation easements from a credible land trust.

TCPI may award up to 50% of the fair market value of the easement.

The remaining value of the easement may be donated by the landowner or additional funding must be raised. Any value of a conservation easement that is donated may afford income tax and estate tax benefits if it permanently protects the conservation values of the property and meets other federal tax code requirements.

Habitat Management

Landowners can support wildlife habitat and biodiversity by adopting wildlife-friendly land management practices. Practices such as prescribed burns and brush control allow for native grasses to flourish. Native plant re-seeding will return plants that once blanketed the region and support populations of grassland birds. Practices such as rotational grazing that promote healthy grazing lands will improve watershed filtration and ground water recharge.

TCPI partners have identified specific Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) approved practices that benefit wildlife, particularly grassland and wetland birds. These practices include brush control, prescribed burning, native grass reseeding, wetlands enhancement, and cross-fencing for grazing management.

Habitat Management Funding Available

TCPI offers a voluntary program that awards private landowners funding to help implement land management activities that benefit coastal prairie wildlife species.

TCPI representatives are happy to visit with you to create a management plan and identify practices that would be effective in supporting wildlife on your land.

The amount that may be available to landowners is based on the approved cost share rates.

How to Apply

Local TCPI partner staff work with individual landowners who are interested in the program. Approved projects will meet eligibility requirements established by TCPI partners.

TCPI partners are currently accepting Conservation Easement and Habitat Management projects for Round Three funding with the deadline to submit projects set for Friday, September 13, 2024. Please contact TCPI by emailing tcpi-info@coastalprairieconservancy.org or through the online contact form in order to be contacted by a TCPI partner regarding a potential project.

To learn more about other programs that provide financial assistance to private landowners for land conservation, please visit our Other Funding Sources page.

Free Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance is available to landowners year-round to develop a conservation plan.