Volunteer Conservation Easement Monitoring
Volunteer monitors are instrumental in helping Landmark fulfill our yearly monitoring requirements- thank you!Send completed form to Tommy Adams, Stewardship Specialist, at tommy@landmarkwi.org.
As a land trust, Landmark Conservancy has the responsibility to monitor conservation easements across the 20 counties we serve.
Landmark Conservancy must ensure that the terms of each conservation easement are being upheld, and walking each property annually is a great way to do that. Not only does it allow for direct observation of the condition of the land, but it also provides a valuable opportunity to connect with landowners and discuss their questions or plans for the future. Staff review the results of the monitoring visit ensuring the terms of the conservation easement are being upheld and the conservation values of the land are protected.
Using a simple smartphone application allows volunteer monitors to collect valuable information which helps the Landmark staff track natural and man-made changes over time. For these reasons, annual monitoring is essential! As are the volunteers that help make it happen.
What is a conservation easement?
Conservation easements (CEs) are legal documents developed in cooperation with private landowners which constrain the use of their land in order to protect the unique conservation values of the property – perhaps a trout stream, old-growth forest, or wetland.
Each CE is different, but they often restrict the number and/or location of new buildings, block disturbances near sensitive waterways, and generally serve to protect the character and integrity of the land for future generations.
While the land continues to be owned by private landowners, Landmark Conservancy, as holder of the conservation easement, has the obligation to ensure the terms of the CE are upheld in perpetuity.
Volunteer Monitoring
Interested in monitoring? Here are some things to know:
Deadline: Fill out the volunteer application and waiver form to be eligible to monitor. While we try our best to assign and accommodate everyone interested in volunteering, local over-saturations of volunteers in popular areas may mean that we are not able to take everyone on board. Monitors will be selected and trained from March to April.
Responsibilities:
Volunteer must…
- Independently contact the landowner prior to the monitoring visit (contact information will be provided)
- Provide own transportation to and from the properties
- Be prepared to make a general walking inspection of the property with or without the landowner present. Some properties may be remote or difficult to traverse.
- Fill out a monitoring form, and return a copy to Landmark Conservancy by November 1st.
Time commitment:
- If you are new to monitoring with Landmark, Stewardship Specialist, Tommy Adams, will work with you to schedule an hour-long online introductory training.
- Properties must be monitored between April 1st – November 1st
- Typically, each volunteer will be assigned to 3-6 properties, depending on availability and preferences
- Each monitoring visit typically lasts less than an hour, although it will vary based on property size and complexity
Resources for Volunteer Monitors
- Click to view or download the “Volunteer Monitoring Handbook”.
- Click to watch an introduction to volunteer monitoring.
- Click to watch Landmark’s tutorial for the monitoring mobile app “Landscape”.
- Click to watch the Landscape monitoring software tutorial video.
Volunteers play an important role in conducting the on-the-ground monitoring visits across our 20-county service area. In 2024, 31 volunteers monitored 101 properties across 16 counties!
