Conservation Cemetery Basics

A conservation cemetery provides a sustainable and spiritually-fulfilling solution for people seeking to leave a legacy of care and respect for the planet and its inhabitants. It is a place where the body is returned to nature and the natural cycle of life. The burial process supports and restores nature instead of destroying it. The resulting green space establishes a living memorial and forms a protected nature preserve. Thus such a cemetery may also be called a cemetery nature preserve or a memorial nature preserve.

There are three main values that green cemeteries uphold: Environmental, Spiritual and Economic.

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

Conservation

Most "traditional" cemeteries don't provide habitat for our wild things. In order to maintain their manicured lawns, while making as many sales as possible, most cemeteries require that coffins be placed inside a concrete vault. If one could peel back the topsoil of one of these cemeteries, it may be shocking to realize that much of the ground has been filled with concrete. Most also use many chemicals in maintaining the lawns and flowers, and the embalming process quite literally injects thousands of gallons of other toxic chemicals into the ground. None of this is required by law in Wisconsin. For all of these reasons, cemeteries have generally not been places where nature abounds.

In comparison, conservation cemeteries are like nature preserves. No concrete or toxic embalming fluids are allowed. Caskets and other burial products must be biodegradable. Burials are limited in number, using only 10-30 percent of the land, and with a decreased density, all of which means the footprint from such activities is small.

The burial process is also a great opportunity to restore an area by planting trees and native vegetation and establishing hiking trails. State law-required funds for perpetual care of the cemetery can be spent on restoring and protecting nature, rather than mowing the lawn and repairing sidewalks. For all of these reasons, a conservation cemetery can be a place where nature is allowed to thrive.

Land Use

Most traditional cemeteries have only one land use - burial. Many also have rules prohibiting other activities, such as jogging through the cemetery. In any case, because of their endless rows of headstones most are designed in ways that many people find strange and cold. So even if other activities are allowed, many people don't take advantage of the opportunity.

Conservation cemeteries provide for multiple land use. They should be like other state and private natural areas and be open to the public for hiking and recreation. Because of their design and use of only a small portion of land for burial, users are unlikely to come across areas dedicated to burial. Even if users happen upon such areas, they are unlikely to know it, because a conservation cemetery does not allow traditional grave markers to detract from the natural experience. Cemetery markers must either be flat so as not to be readily noticeable or instead utilize natural markers such as field stones or trees. Technology savvy families can skip a marker entirely and use GPS coordinates!

Permanent Protection

Natural lands owned by the government can always be sold. Tools utilized by the conservation community, such as easements, are relatively untested. There is no guarantee that a group may exist in 100 years to enforce an easement. Cemetery lands, however, are protected against disturbing activities by State law. What's more, if a cemetery organization no longer exists, the local government is often required to take over and protect the cemetery. Because these cemeteries are also public green spaces, it's a win-win situation for everyone.

SPIRITUAL VALUES

Many people experience their most spiritual moments when immersed in the glory of nature. Nature provides a unique connection to the source from which we came and to which we will return.

By choosing rows of headstones over nature, traditional cemeteries often fail to provide people with a sufficient spiritual experience. People have described the traditional cemetery experience as freezing in time the physical state of death and emotional state of grief. By comparison, the idea of conservation cemeteries has been described as honoring the true cycle of life and death, thus allowing people to experience both grief and joy.

ECONOMIC VALUES

Concrete vaults, embalming fluid, traditional markers and non-degradable caskets are very expensive and often constitute the majority of costs associated with burial. Because these items are not allowed at a conservation cemetery, green burial may be the most affordable option.