BEN VALENTINE: How does a land trust work, and what makes ACRES unique? Â
JASON KISSEL: Land trusts are nonprofits that protect land. What type of land they protect and how they protect it varies among organizations. The two primary tools land trusts utilize to protect land is conservation easements and land ownership. ACRES is unique in several ways, we are the oldest local land trust in Indiana, we protect land primarily (99%) through ownership rather than easements, and we guarantee to never sell, trade or otherwise transfer land that we protect. Conservation easements are great tools, ACRES just prefers to own the land we protect â since itâs the highest level of protection. We are lucky to have partner land trusts within our service area to refer landowners wanting conservation easements on their land. Â