Requirements Manual

^{11C2, 12C2}

1. Each conservation easement monitored once per calendar year. (Monitoring documented over accredited term at renewal; documented over last three years at first-time.)

2. Each conservation property inspected once per calendar year. (Inspections documented over accredited term at renewal; documented over last three years at first-time.)

3. Monitoring or inspection reports include the following:

   a. Monitoring/inspection date¹

   b. Property monitored/inspected

   c. Name of monitor/inspector

   d. Observations related to property’s condition and conservation values

   e. For conservation easements, observations² related to any potential conservation easement violations

   f. For conservation fee properties, observations2 related to any potential management/ownership problems³

   g. Date report completed ^{Started in 2022}

   _{(¹For remote inspection or monitoring, reports include the date image captured, data source, and either a copy of the image or the permanent storage location of the images/photos.)} ^{Starting in 2027}

   _{(²If observations in photos, reports must include the photos or the permanent storage location of the photos.)} ^{Starting in 2027}

   _{(³Such as encroachment or trespass.)}

4. Monitoring and/or inspection reports completed within three months of the monitoring/inspection date. _{(For remote inspection or monitoring, the date of image capture and date of report recording land trust review of the imagery should generally fall within the same calendar year.)}

5. Monitoring and/or inspection methodology^? sufficient to identify conservation easement violations or conservation property management/ownership problems. _{(^?Method must be appropriate to the type of monitoring and inspections conducted, such as on-the-ground, aerial, remote sensing/satellite imagery, etc.)}

6. If using aerial or remote methods to monitor conservation easements or inspect conservation properties, on-the-ground visit occurs at least once every five years. ^{Started in 2024 for conservation properties}

^12B1

1. Every conservation property has a management plan that includes the following:

   a. Date plan completed or updated Started with plans created or updated in 2022 and beyond

   b. Identification of conservation values^? _{(^?Such as cultural, natural, or community values.)}

   c. Management goals

   d. Activities to achieve management goals

   If a first-time applicant has a management plan for each conservation property but one or more are missing some of the required content above, a feasible plan with strategies and timelines to upgrade the plans before its first renewal exists.

2. Management plan has sufficient detail^? to effectively protect and manage the property. _{(^?Such as maps with location of key property features or specific activities, summaries of restrictions or donor/funder requirements that inform uses, maps that show property location and boundaries.)}

3. Management plan does not allow uses that adversely impact the conservation values and/or violate restrictions on the property.

4. Management plans completed within 12 months of acquisition.

5. Management plans updated^? within 12 months of new parcels being added to the property. _{(^?Such as with updated maps, new property information.)}

6. Relevant sections^? of management plans generally updated after significant changes to the conservation values or natural features. _{(^?Depending on nature of change [such as after wildfires, hurricanes], updates to sections on conservation values, management goals, activities to achieve goals, or maps.)}

^{11E1, 11H1}

1. Violation policy and/or procedures exist.

2. Amendment policy and/or procedures:

• a. Require amendments to have a net beneficial or neutral effect on the protected conservation values

• b. Prohibit impermissible private benefit and private inurement

^{11H1, 11J1}

1. Amendments generally consistent with the Land Trust Alliance Amendment Principles, including having documented the following:

   • a. Having a net beneficial or neutral effect on the protected conservation values

   • b. Not resulting in private inurement or impermissible private benefit

2. Extinguishment actions are documented to show:

   • a. Followed conservation easement terms with respect to obtaining judicial or regulatory review (or obtained written legal counsel determination why judicial or regulatory review not needed)

   • b. Did not result in private inurement or impermissible private benefit

   • c. Took steps to avoid or mitigate harm to conservation values

   • d. Used any proceeds appropriately

   • e. Did not put land trust’s or land trust community’s reputation in jeopardy

3. Board informed or involved as appropriate to scale of amendment or extinguishment.

4. If co-held, co-holder involved in amendment or extinguishment according to terms of conservation easement or other agreement.

^{11E2, 12C3}

1. Conservation easement enforcement actions or actions taken to address management/ownership problems are documented to show the actions:

   • a. Were timely

   • b. Were consistent with conservation values and/or restrictions

   • c. Did not result in private inurement or impermissible private benefit

2. Board informed or involved in resolution as appropriate to scale of violation or management/ownership problem.

3. If co-held, co-holder involved in enforcement, management/ownership problem, or resolution according to terms of conservation easement, deed, or other agreement.

^{11B3, 11F3}

1. Significant changes to the land¹ or changes to the conservation easement² sufficiently documented³. _{(¹Such as resulting from natural disaster or exercise of a permitted right.) (²Such as resulting from an amendment.) (³Such as with documentation that includes the date, written descriptions, and photographs and/or maps appropriate to the type and scale of change.)}

2. Substantive notices, approvals, denials, interpretations, and the exercise of significant permitted rights sufficiently documented, including written correspondence of the land trust’s decision.

3. Documentation shows approved activities:

   • a. Are consistent with conservation easement purposes and terms

   • b. Do not result in private inurement or impermissible private benefit