Resources For Landowners

  • Land Conservation Options

    Last reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025 These resources explain the main ways private landowners can conserve their land, including donations, conservation restrictions, charitable sales, and other approach...

  • Legal Food Hub

    Last Reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025 A free legal referral service connecting farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food system organizations with attorneys for assistance on land access, business, and transa...

  • MA Landowner Programs

    Last reviewed by MLTC 11/18/2024. List of landowner assistance programs. View programs at: http://masswoods.net/landowner-programs

  • MA Service Forestry Program

    Last reviewed by MLTC 11/18/2024. This program provides technical assistance to private landowners and municipalities in forest resource planning, forest management, and forest protection within 14 di...

  • Massachusetts Chapter 61 Current Use Tax Programs

    Last Reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025 Massachusetts’ Chapter 61 programs provide reduced property tax assessments for land enrolled in long-term forest, agricultural, or open space and recreational use. T...

  • Massachusetts Forestry Programs Overview

    Last reviewed by MLTC 11/25/2024. The Department of Conservation and Recreation offers resources and financial assistance programs to aid woodland owners in forestry stewardship and management. Belo...

  • Planned Giving

    Last reviewed by MLTC 11/25/2024. The term “planned giving” refers to charitable gifts that require some planning before they are made. This document describes various reasons to get involved in plann...

  • Post-Mortem Donation of Conservation Easements

    Last reviewed by MLTC 11/25/2024. Explores opportunities available under Section 2031(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, in particular the post-mortem donation of a conservation easement. Demonstrates t...

  • Recreational Use Shields Landowner from Liability

    Last reviewed 11/15/2024. Resource explaining Massachusetts, General Law c. 21 sec. 17C, which affords any owner who allows the public to use their land for recreation at no charge relief from liabili...

  • Regional Agricultural Funding & Resource Guides

    Last Reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025 Regional tools that compile funding opportunities, grants, and resource guides for agricultural producers in the Northeast, helping farmers access cost-share, beginni...

  • Using the Conservation Tax Incentive

    Last reviewed by MLTC 11/24/2025. An overview of the Federal tax incentive for conservation easement (restriction) donations that was enacted by congress in 2015 and recently extended. A booklet expla...

  • What is a Land Trust

    Last Reviewed by MLTC: 12/11/2025 This resource explains that a land trust is a nonprofit organization that works with landowners and communities to permanently conserve land through ownership, conse...