Conservation Easements: 2026 Updates on Legal, Appraisal, Accounting, and Ethical Issues
The Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust are partnering to present a seminar that addresses current legal and valuation issues associated with appraising conservation easement property types. Subject matter experts from the various facets of the conservation easement realm will provide insight into their role in the process.
Who Should Enroll
Course Offerings
| Sponsor | Date | Location | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama-Mississippi Chapter | September 11, 2026 | Synchronous | View Details | Register |
Course Objectives
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Recognize what do Land Trusts do?
- Discuss importance of land conservation
- List tax incentives for protecting land
- Assess conservation purposes
- State types of land in conservation easements
- Address primary Terms and Conditions of typical conservation easement properties
- Describe Rights of Grantee
- Name Restrictions and Reserved Rights
- Demonstrate Notice
- Discuss Deed Requirements
- Discuss Amendments
- Explain Enforcement
- Prepare Exhibits
- Name pros and cons of Conservation Easement Process
- Identify costs
- Formulate baseline Documentation Report
- Demonstrate Reasons to Donate Easements
- Define What is a Qualified Contribution
- Explain Conservation Purposes
- State Caselaw
- Express Perpetuity
- Describe Charitable Donations
- List Deductions
- Identify 170(f)(8) Caselaw
- Distinguish Qualified Appraisals
- Discuss Appraisal Caselaw
- Explain Importance of Recording and Process
- Discuss Excepted Entities and Form 8283
- Define key terminology and concepts related to conservation easement appraisals, including appraisal, appraiser, appraisal report, conservation easement, and the applicable IRS standard of value.
- Identify the required elements of a real estate appraisal prepared for conservation easement purposes, including intended use, effective date, property characteristics, assumptions, and valuation requirements.
- Analyze highest and best use considerations for conservation easement appraisals, including the evaluation of legally permissible, physically possible, financially feasible, and maximally productive uses before and after the easement.
- Differentiate between applicable valuation methodologies, including the sales, income, cost, and development approaches, and evaluate their appropriate application in conservation easement assignments.
- Apply the before-and-after valuation methodology used to measure the impact of conservation easements on property value.
- Recognize IRS requirements for substantiating donated gift value, including qualified appraisal standards, qualified appraiser criteria, and certification requirements.
- Examine conservation easement appraisal issues involving the entire contiguous parcel rule, enhancement considerations, timbered land, development approaches, subsurface rights, and syndicated transactions.
- Evaluate common appraisal deficiencies and “red flags” identified by IRS experts, including unsupported assumptions, inadequate analysis, and poorly supported conclusions.
- Describe characteristics of a well-supported conservation easement appraisal, including logical organization, credible highest and best use analysis, and conclusions supported by relevant data and analysis.