Easement Monitoring Program

Easement monitoring is the ongoing process of making sure the purpose and restrictions of each individual conservation easement are being upheld. It is a cooperative process between NEFF and the landowner.

The first step in conservation easement monitoring is preparing a baseline documentation report. This report is a collection of maps, photographs, and written descriptions of the property, its natural resources, and the conservation values that are being protected. It is meant to serve as a reference to which all future monitoring efforts will compare in order to determine if any unacceptable changes have occurred.

After the baseline documentation report is complete, NEFF begins its regular monitoring program. NEFF has two different monitoring protocols depending upon the size of the conservation easement. Landscape-scale conservation easements (larger than 25,000 acres) are monitored using a combination of satellite imagery, aerial photography, and ground visits. For smaller conservation easements, NEFF uses annual telephone interviews with easement landowners and site visits to fulfill our monitoring responsibility. Both methods depend upon working cooperatively to meet both the landowner's and NEFF's goals.

Gifts of Conservation Easements/List of easements

Questions about NEFF’s conservation easement monitoring program can be directed to Chris Pryor, Conservation Easement Monitoring Coordinator and Forester, at (978) 952-6856 ext. 107 or by     e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .