A conservation easement is an interest in land created by a written agreement between a landowner and either a land trust or local government to achieve defined conservation purposes. The written agreement, called a conservation easement, runs with the land which means it applies to both present and future owners of the land. The purposes of conservation easements vary but may include one or more of the following objectives: (1) to maintain and improve water quality, (2) to maintain healthy forest areas, and (3) to maintain and improve wildlife habitats.