When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect

The purpose of this report is to recommend methods and best practices for landscape-scale conservation projects in the Gulf of Mexico Region to aid the funders and other Gulf ecosystem restoration decision makers, land trusts, and land conservation practitioners in ensuring their land protection investments are efficient and cost-effective.

This report offers suggestions for reviving both the ecosystems and the economies of the Gulf Coast region. Our approach is one of voluntary land conservation through cooperation with landowners, public agencies, residents, and regional stakeholders. More than 86 percent of the agricultural and forested lands in the Gulf Coast region are privately owned. By working with private landowners and residents of local communities, land trusts—nonprofit organizations that actively conserve land through cooperative agreements with landowners, direct land purchases, and other methods—can help create a future for the Gulf Coast region built on shared values of hard work, responsible stewardship and a passion for the outdoors.

This booklet is for landowners who want to learn more about the options available for conserving their natural lands, including:

• Donating a conservation easement
• Donating or selling land for less than fair market value
• Selling the land to a land trust or government agency

Land trusts can help landowners find the right solution, one that fits the needs of their family and financial situation while conserving land in the most appropriate way.