Conservation/preservation easements are a interesting animal. I am particularly intrigued by there often dual purposes. I have talked about easements on agricultural lands in class, but i would like to reflect here on conservation easements in subdivision open space. Specifically the Ginn Corporation who is developing Laurelmor had a number of purposes in placing a large amount of property into conservation easements. Ginn received some much needed good press from the donation. It appeared on the front page of the WSJ and many other local papers. Without discounting the environmental benefits, the land was some of the most ecologically sensitive, which by other regulations precluded it from being developed anyway. Things like trout buffers and high water quality watersheds made the land worthless for development. The biggest advantage that I think Ginn received from the donated conservation easement was the mitigation credit they received from the corps. This saved them thousands of dollars. While some may view this multi-purpose approach as a problem I think it is a necessity to preserving open space.