In which locations can conservation leasing and ownership be undertaken?

Virginia Coast Reserve. Image courtesy The Natue Conservancy, Virginia

Various forms of private leasing and ownership of lands and resources lying within ocean and coastal waters are more common than many people think. For instance nearly every ocean coast state in the United States has some form of leasing available to private entities. Private, fee-title ownership of inter-tidal areas is also quite common — approximately 70% of the inter-tidal areas of Puget Sound in Washington State are privately owned while approximately 75% of the inter-tidal areas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are privately owned. Outside of the United States, communal ownership and private concessions are often found.

The Country Summaries and U.S. State Summaries on this website explain our understanding of whether leasing and ownership can be undertaken in specific locations. While in some areas we have extensive knowledge and experience, in other areas we wish to build upon limited knowledge. For some locations outside of the United States we have no information, but are seeking ways to access the existing data, resources, and projects.

The Case Studies in this toolkit show locations of leasing and ownership projects that have been undertaken for conservation purposes. In theory, leasing and ownership should be replicable where projects have already been undertaken. In addition, the case studies can also pave the way for creative thinking on how to apply the strategies in new areas.

In many states and countries, the laws, policies, and practices related to ocean and coastal land and resource management must be assessed to determine if and how leasing and ownership can be used for conservation purposes. Ideally these assessments are done with the aid or collaboration of the responsible management entities. The Nature Conservancy has undertaken and collaborated with several assessments while some assessments have been undertaken as separate efforts, unrelated to the Conservancy (see Assessments).

Finally, to understand where leasing and ownership is possible, conservation organizations must be able to access maps or data that depict current leasing activities and ownership parcels. This information is sometimes readily available via the Internet and has been summarized in the Maps and Data page for each state. The Nature Conservancy has also undertaken specific assessments in some areas to determine leasing and ownership patterns. These assessments can be used to match leasing and ownership opportunities with priority areas targeted for conservation.