Conservation easement holding entities like the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District have protected millions of acres of land all across the country.  The Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District began its program in 2007 making it the first Conservation District in Ohio to hold conservation easements within subdivision development areas.

Today's pressures from encroaching development and urban sprawl have sparked a growing concern over the loss of farmland, green space and natural resources.  The conservation easement is but one tool conscientious developers, landowners, government and other conservation organizations can use to protect and preserve sensitive natural areas.

To qualify for a conservation easement, the land must have some conservation or preservation value.  Obvious examples would include land that harbors rare species of plant or animal life, or land bordering an existing park or preserve.  Less obvious examples might include a wooded ravine, land that provides wildlife access to a natural waterway, or a small wetland area that helps filter the water flowing into a lake or river.

The Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District is a local political subdivision directed by a group of five dedicated, publicly-elected officials who know how important it is to protect sensitive natural features from development in Delaware County.