A conservation easement is a legal agreement with a landowner to protect their property from development. The result is that the land continues to belong to that landowner, and the open space is protected for the benefit of the greater community, forever. Not all protected lands are open to the public, but the public benefits by the protection of open space, wildlife habitat, working family farms & ranches, and historical/archaeological resources in our community. Here in Durango, we have the unique partnership with the City to protect public recreational access on city park lands, such as the Oxbow Preserve, and Horse Gulch, Overend, and Dalla mountain parks.