It is our privilege to work with landowners to find the right conservation project for their goals. Our region includes land in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties in North Carolina, and Rabun County, Georgia.
Interested in conserving your property? There are two options:
- Conservation Easement – This is a voluntary legal agreement, which limits the type and amount of development that can occur on the land in the future. Easements often do not change the way land is currently used, but protect the land from undesired future development.
- Donation of Land – An outright donation of land to Mainspring can be immediate, or combined with a reserved life estate. Reserved life estates allow owners to live on their land until their death. This is often a useful option for landowners who want to see their land protected and who have no heirs, or have heirs who do not wish to use the land.
As a qualified and accredited 501(c)(3), Mainspring land protection staff can help you plan for the future by discussing your conservation options and the potential benefits of permanent land protection. Every land protection project begins with a non-binding conversation to determine if the landowner’s vision for the property is compatible with Mainspring’s mission.
In some rare cases, Mainspring may purchase property to protect its significant natural or cultural resources.
Contact Mainspring’s Land Conservation Director Jordan Smith to discuss your options. Learn more about land trusts here.
