The desirability of any one approach is tied to many factors, including the landowner's needs, the location of the property, the type of wildlife habitat a particular wetland provides, and the use of surrounding lands. The concerns of a farmer are different from those of an urbanite, who may be deeply attached to a rural ranch but does not depend upon it for a livelihood. The issues facing property owners in Northern California differ from those affecting landowners in Southern California, because climate, geography, and land uses are vastly different. Along the coast, where land values are very high and where land use is regulated according to the Coastal Act, landowners encounter circumstances different from those arising for landowners inland.
Although it cannot fully explore all these variables, the following selections provide basic explanations of the techniques most commonly used in California to protect wetlands and other important lands. These techniques are:
Conservation Easements Remainder Interests Management Agreements Limited Development Strategies Leases Transfer of Full Title
This file last modified on: Thursday, August 13, 1998.