Land protection tools

One the most important functions of the Vineyard Conservation Society is the protection of open space, farmland, and habitat via the facilitation of conservation outcomes for private (or public) landowners, rather than through outright purchase. Below are some of the most frequently used tools on the Vineyard. If you are interested in ensuring your land is protected for the future of the Island, please reach out to us to learn more about what we can do together!

Conservation Restriction: A conservation restriction (CR) is a landowner’s voluntary agreement to restrict development of private land. It is a contract between a property owner and a conservation entity designed to protect the important natural attributes of the land by tailoring what kinds of uses or development, if any, will be allowed to take place in the future.

Mutual Covenants: Where protecting open space and the character of a neighborhood is important to  several adjacent owners, but not of sufficient benefit to the general public to warrant a conservation restriction (CR), a mutual covenant is one way to proceed.

CH. 61 Programs: For many landowners, the pressure of increasing property taxes forces a decision to develop land. Ch. 61 becomes a worthwhile approach for the large landowner who is considering permanent protection at a future date, but needs to ease the local property tax burden in the short term.

Agricultural Preservation Restriction: The Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program is a voluntary program which is intended to offer a non-development alternative to farmers and other owners of “prime” and “state important” agricultural land who are faced with a decision regarding future use and disposition of their farms. Towards this end, the program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their farmland in exchange for a permanent deed restriction which precludes any use of the property that will have a negative impact on its agricultural viability.