“Performing Developability:” Generating threat and value in private land conservation

•With an easement, landowners are compensated based on foregone development potential.•Real estate appraisers are integral to the valuation process.•Landowners can “perform” the threat of conversion to generate greater benefits.•Three major strategies are employed: spatial, volumetric, and temporal.•Geographers interested in value should engage with property appraisal.