Introduction: 10AM – Noon

The Nature of the Conservation Easement and Its Application
What is a conservation easement? What does it accomplish in the big picture? Is it the best tool for the situation and when should you look at alternatives? What is the relationship of your organization to it and to the owners of the land that is subject to it? What does conservation and a tool for achieving it mean from the standpoint of perpetuity? What are the tradeoffs between ease of administration, ease of enforcement, ease of negotiating and drafting, and conservation value delivered? Are you using it optimally? [CLE Credit] Speakers: Andy Loza, WeConservePA; Lauren Pregmon-Tetreault, Pregmon Law Offices; George Asimos

Introduction to the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants
The session will provide participants a tour through the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. Along the way, it will point to various features of the model that facilitate customization to specific projects, identify text that generally should be left untouched, and explore the wealth of optional and alternative material contained in the commentary and supplemental provisions. [CLE Credit]  Speakers: Andy Loza, WeConservePA; Lauren Pregmon Tetreault, Pregmon Law Offices.

Customizing Easement Documents to Address Circumstances: 1PM – 4PM

This interactive session will introduce participants to a series of scenarios, including those involving various landowner and long-term stewardship concerns, to highlight matters addressed in each article of the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants. The Session Leaders will also cover a variety of issues addressed in the commentary and supplemental provisions. [CLE Credit] Speakers: Lauren Pregmon-Tetreault, Pregmon Law Offices; George Asimos; and others.

Breaking Issues Roundtable: 4PM – 5PM

Moderator: Andy Loza, WeConservePA.

Session I: 8:00AM – Noon

Topic #1: Setting the Stage for Perpetuity
Presentations by panelists will be followed by Q&A and group discussion. Panelists: Emilie Rzotkiewicz, Allegheny Land Trust; Andrew Fetterman, Berks Nature; Robyn Jeney, Natural Lands; Steven Regan, Steptoe & Johnson, LLP.

Topic #2: Enforcement
Who can enforce, how to enforce, implications of enforcement failure.  [CLE Credit] Panelists: Bret Shaffer, Schiffman, Sheridan, & Brown, PC; Steve Schiffman, Schiffman, Sheridan, & Brown, PC; Jeb Musser, Lancaster Farmland Trust.

Topic #3: Easement Stewardship Funding. 
A discussion detailing how land trusts are funding easement stewardship by tapping landowner support. Panelists: Erin McCormick, Natural Lands; Karl Russek, French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust; Erik Hetzel, Willistown Conservation Trust; Andy Loza, WeConservePA.

Session II: 1:30PM – 4PM

Topic #1: Engaging with Landowners: From Project Inception Through the Grant of Easement
Presentation by panelists will be followed by Q&A and group discussion. Panelists: Emilie Rzotkiewicz; Allegheny Land Trust; Sean Kenny, Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County; John Goodall, Brandywine Conservancy.

Topic #2: Stewardship in Perpetuity: From Monitoring to Maintaining Files, from Education to Litigation
Presentations by Panelists will be followed by Q&A and group discussion. Panelists: Stone Alexander, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy; Andrew Zadnik, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy; Andrew Kirkpatrick, Willistown Conservation Trust; Steve Schiffman, Schiffman, Sheridan, & Brown, PC.