Conservation Cemetery: How It Works, Costs and Rules

A conservation cemetery is a burial ground where the land is permanently protected as a nature preserve, and burials help pay to keep it that way. Bodies go into the ground without embalming chemicals, vaults or other materials that won't break down. Most green burial grounds don't meet this standard: the Conservation Burial Alliance's directory lists only 17 conservation burial grounds in the US.

What makes a cemetery a "conservation" cemetery?

"Green burial" is a broad term. The Green Burial Council (GBC) certifies three kinds of burial ground:

The difference is legal protection. A natural burial ground may skip vaults and embalming without having permanent legal protection for the land. A conservation burial ground is tied to a conservation agreement that stays with the land.

What rules does a conservation burial ground follow?

The Conservation Burial Alliance publishes standards that conservation grounds are expected to meet. Among them:

• Permanent land protection. The burial ground is guaranteed by a deed restriction, conservation easement or similar legally binding agreement that runs with the land and is enforceable forever. A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement that permanently limits how land can be used.
• An oversight partner. The cemetery works with a government agency or a nonprofit conservation organization that has legal responsibility for perpetual monitoring.
• No vaults. Vaults, concrete boxes and concrete liners are not allowed.
• Limited embalming. Only bodies that have not been embalmed, or were embalmed with GBC-approved nontoxic chemicals, are accepted.
• Biodegradable containers. Caskets, shrouds and other products must be made only of natural materials that break down.
• A stewardship endowment. At least 10% of all plot sales must go into a fund for long-term care of the site.
• An ecological assessment of the property before burials begin, and limits on the type and size of markers.
• Low density. The standards limit burials to 300 per acre, and the Alliance says most sites are far lower. It contrasts that with 1,000 to 1,200 per acre in traditional cemeteries.

Because these are cemetery-by-cemetery standards, ask any site you're considering to show you its conservation easement and who holds it.

How much does a conservation burial cost?

There is no single price. The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) says that at green cemeteries the grave site and interment run $1,000 to $4,000 for a body and $200 to $1,000 for cremated remains. A funeral home's fee is often around $2,000, though some charge $5,000 or more. The GBC says green burial can cost less than, the same as, or more than a conventional funeral depending on what you choose.

The Conservation Burial Alliance cites $650 to $4,000 for burying cremated remains, depending on extras such as GPS mapping, markers or a memorial wall. A portion of the fee goes to perpetual care and land conservation.

You can save on the casket side because simple shrouds and plain wood containers cost less than a manufactured casket. The FTC Funeral Rule lets you buy only what you want and says no state law requires routine embalming for every death. For comparison, People's Memorial Association's 2024 Washington survey found full-service burials averaging $6,584 in that state.

How do you arrange a conservation burial?

1. Find a site near you. The Conservation Burial Alliance and the Green Burial Council both keep directories. The Alliance's list includes a couple of sites that have stopped accepting new burial contracts, so confirm each one is open.
2. Ask about requirements. Ask how the site handles body care, containers, grave digging, markers and service arrangements.
3. Choose a container. Options include a shroud, a wicker or bamboo casket, or a simple untreated wood or cardboard container. See burial shrouds and eco-friendly caskets.
4. Plan for time. Without embalming, the body is usually kept cool until burial. The GBC says states may set time limits before preservation is required, typically 24 to 72 hours, so check local rules. Read more on viewings without embalming.
5. Put it in writing. Record your wishes in a funeral plan and tell your family. If you use a funeral home, ask whether it is comfortable working with the cemetery on a no-embalming, no-vault burial.

Common questions about the land and the grave

Is it legal? The GBC says green burial is allowed in all 50 states. Vaults are not required by law, though individual cemeteries may require them. That is why the cemetery's own rules matter as much as state law.

Is it safe for groundwater? The GBC says drinking water sources are typically about 75 feet below the surface. Local rules may add setbacks from wells and water.

How deep is the grave? The GBC describes about 3.5 to 4 feet as optimal, which gives enough oxygen and soil life for natural decomposition.

What about pacemakers? The GBC says natural burial grounds rarely turn people away for titanium or similar implants. Ask the cemetery about its own policy.

Can I visit? Usually, but access rules differ. Many sites are managed as natural land, so expect trails instead of paved roads and lawns, and ask about visiting hours.

What to do next

• Search the Conservation Burial Alliance and GBC directories for sites within a few hours' drive.
• Compare with other options in our guides to natural burial grounds and green burial vs traditional burial.
• Ask the cemetery for its price list and conservation documents before you buy a plot.