What is a Land Trust

A land trust is a charitable organization committed to the long-term conservation of ecologically, agriculturally, and/or historically significant lands.

A land trust is an organization that works with private landowners to conserve land.

A land trust may own land, or may enter into conservation easements with landowners to protect their land’s natural, agricultural, and historic features.

These privately conserved lands complement the network of publicly protected areas (e.g. provincial and national parks), and help increase landscape connectivity for wildlife, enhance ecosystem services, and build resistance to climate change.

Land trusts work with owners of working landscapes, helping them protect the ecological, agricultural, and heritage values of sustainably-managed ranches, farms, and woodlots.

In many cases, lands conserved by land trusts provide opportunities for the public for hiking, bird watching, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, fishing, and hunting with permission through either the land trust or the land owner.