What is Stewardship?

After acquiring a conservation easement, the grantee (WAC) commits itself (under state and federal laws) to the annual stewardship of that easement in perpetuity. Stewardship refers to all aspects of managing a conservation easement including but not limited to: monitoring, landowner relations, recordkeeping, processing landowner notices, amendment requests, and reserved right requests for approval, managing stewardship funds, enforcement, and legal defense.

WAC’s Conservation Easements are designed to allow for working landscapes while promoting conservation. They permit activities such as agriculture, timber harvests, and blue stone quarrying so long as the plans to engage in such activities promote sound conservation practices and are approved.