Working to Save America's Land Heritage

The nation's 1,600-plus nonprofit land trusts, organizations that operate independently of government, are working on the front lines with communities to help them save America's land heritage.

Land trusts have been extraordinarily successful, having protected more than 37 million acres of land, according to the National Land Trust Census.

Community-based land trusts are experts at helping interested landowners find ways to protect their land in the face of ever-growing development pressure.

They may protect land through donation and purchase, by working with landowners who wish to donate or sell conservation easements (permanent deed restrictions that prevent harmful land uses), or by acquiring land outright to maintain working farms, forests, wilderness, or for other conservation reasons.

How do land trusts succeed? Read some of their stories. Looking for a land trust in your area? View our list of member land trusts. Looking for a job with a land trust? View our frequently updated listing of jobs.

Courtesy of Saratoga P.L.A.N. Photographer: James Newton

Landowners Speaking About Land Trusts “This farm and the land mean everything to us. We don’t know what we would do if we could not pass this farm down to our family to continue to care for it. Working with The Land Trust for Tennessee has given us the confidence to know that our dreams can be realized for more generations of Hollands to farm this land.” - Nancy Holland "We were both 4-Hers and love open space. We're seeing fields and open space disappear, and it doesn't have to happen." - Jeffry Timmons “We didn’t give anything away from which we didn’t receive something in return, and in so many ways, having this land protected is like a salve on a burn. We built a dream on that land and now we can feel that, in essence, that dream will not ever be disturbed.” - Ed Mayne