Why do Land Trusts Matter?
A land trust is a non-profit organization committed to conserving and caring for natural lands
for the benefit of communities and the environment.
Protecting
Biodiversity
Climate
Resilience
Farmland
Conservation
Equitable Access
to Land
Clean Water
Land Stewardship
Community
Connections
Success Stories
A Legacy of Land Conservation
Through strategic conservation efforts and collaborative partnerships, land trusts are committed to safeguarding biodiversity, protecting habitats, and honouring Indigenous land stewardship traditions. Land Trusts have a focus on caring for the land while respecting those with previous relationships and partnerships.
How do land trusts work?
Indigenous Peoples have inhabited, cared for and used these lands and waters, applying original instructions, Indigenous knowledge systems and laws, in relationships of mutual care. It was understood that lands and waters could not be bought, sold, or owned. Yet, since colonization, ideas of ownership and resource exploitation have shaped our relationships with the land and each other. And they have also shaped the history of land trusts.
Now, as a community, we are learning how land trusts can be part of reconciliation, how land trusts can offer ways for Indigenous peoples to reconnect with land as teacher and as provider. We are learning how our work to restore and care for lands can be shaped by Indigenous knowledge systems and traditional practices, and are adapting these into our conservation work. We are looking at other ways that land trusts can help respond to inequities built into our systems, by working with intentionality to increase access to nature for people who have historically not had this privilege. This essential work is ongoing and is really just beginning!
Once land is under the stewardship of an Ontario land trust, careful management becomes paramount. Trusts implement land management plans that may include activities like invasive species removal, habitat restoration, and sustainable forestry practices.
Engaging local communities and volunteers is often a key aspect, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the conservation goals.
Land trusts may offer educational programs and guided tours to raise awareness about the importance of the preserved areas. Through these efforts, Ontario land trusts actively contribute to the long-term health of natural landscapes while promoting public appreciation for the region’s rich biodiversity.
