Mississippi Valley Conservancy does all of its land protection work through cooperative means with willing landowners.  MVC provides tools and opportunities for landowners to carry out their dreams for their own properties.

There are three ways that MVC works with landowners:

1. MVC enters into conservation easements with landowners.  This tool allows people to retain ownership of their land, allows them to continue to live on the land and farm it in some instances, and allows them to sell the land or give it to their children or other relatives.  At the same time, the landowners are assured that the conservation values of the property will be protected forever by MVC.  MVC has protected more than 10,000 acres with conservation easements.
2. MVC takes ownership of land to create nature preserves.  These nature preserves provide great habitat for wildlife, and they also provide thousands of acres of recreational land free and open to the public to enjoy throughout the year.  MVC owns about 4,000 acres of nature preserves for the benefit of people and wildlife.
3. MVC has a Landowner Registry Program—essentially a handshake agreement whereby landowners express their commitment to caring for their land but without the formality or permanence of a conservation easement.  Think of it as more like an engagement than a marriage.

To learn more about these conservation tools, choose from the menu to the left, and learn how you can leave a lasting legacy for future generations and make a real difference in protecting this beautiful earth we share.