Before consideration of a conservation easement, the Board of Directors must determine that the offered lands meet the goals of the Trust, that protection will provide a significant public benefit, and that the Trust is capable of carrying out the perpetual stewardship obligations, which are assumed.

To qualify for consideration, lands must have significant value in one or more of the following categories:

• Wetlands, floodplains, and riparian habitats necessary for the protection of water quality, fish, and wildlife.
• Land that is in active ranching, farming, or other productive agricultural use providing significant open space values and conforming with local government interest in maintaining agricultural uses of the land.
• Lands that contain endangered, threatened, or rare species or natural communities.
• Land that contains important wildlife habitat or migratory routes.
• Lands that contain, or have the potential to contain, ecosystems that remain in relatively natural, undisturbed conditions.
• Lands of recognized historic value.
• Land that is valuable to a community as open space due to its proximity to developing areas or its prominent position in how people perceive their community.
• Land that is situated such that development would obstruct or diminish scenic views or would interfere with views across already protected open space.
• Land that is of sufficient size that its resources will remain intact even if adjacent lands are developed.

The following conditions may lead to the Board of Directors decision not to pursue a proposed project:

• The land area is small, with little likelihood that adjacent lands will be protected.
• Adjacent properties have been developed, or are planned for development that will significantly diminish the conservation values of the land in question.
• The landowner insists on provisions in an easement that are not consistent with the goals of the Trust and/or would significantly diminish the public resource values of the property.