30 by 30 In Action
2026-03-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Toronto)
The Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) is a key tool for tracking and reporting on progress toward Canada’s national and international biodiversity targets. Understanding criteria found the pan-Canadian Decision Support Tool (DST) increases the eligibility of Land Trust properties for Protected Area (PA) or Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) recognition.

In this follow-up webinar, staff from Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, Kawartha Land Trust, and OLTA will cover definitions and associated tools that guide the assessment of protected areas or OECMs. Participants will have the opportunity to ask Land Trust staff questions on their successes and limitations in completing the pan-Canadian Decision Support Tool (DST).

This webinar is free for OLTA Members and Associates, and $45 for community members. This webinar is funded by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks’ Land Accounting program.

Speakers:

Liv Callo, Land Stewardship Manager, Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy

Ben Stark, Land Research Coordinator, Kawartha Land Trust

Katya Kozina, GIS Technician, OLTA

Liv Callo (she/her) is the Land Stewardship Manager at the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, where she leads strategic land stewardship initiatives across all EBC’s Nature Preserves, with a focus on species‑at‑risk habitats, provincially significant wetlands, natural heritage features, and sensitive geological formations along Southern Ontario and Manitoulin Island.

Ben Stark (he/him) is the Land Research Coordinator at the Kawartha Land Trust, where he works with a team of volunteer naturalists to identify and prioritize natural heritage sites for protection through fee simple property securement or the creation of conservation easements.

Lands, Rights, Relations: Advancing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Conservation Practice
2026-03-30 13:00 - 15:00
As reconciliation continues to shape the policy, legal, and ethical landscape in Canada, land trusts are being called upon to examine how their governance and operational practices align with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Declaration informs broader federal commitments, intersects with Section 35 rights, and reflects evolving expectations around meaningful Indigenous participation in land-related decision-making.

Join us for this two-hour virtual training session which will advance land trust understanding of UNDRIP and explore practical pathways for integrating relevant Articles into land acquisition, stewardship, and governance practices in a responsible and relationship-based manner.

Key Content:

Context & Legal Landscape: An overview of UNDRIP in Canada and its relationship to Section 35, Treaty rights, and the operations of conservation organizations.

Relevant UNDRIP Articles: An examination of key Articles related to decision-making, land rights, and environmental stewardship, with direct application to conservation practice.

Operational Implications: Practical considerations for land acquisition, stewardship planning, and Indigenous engagement.

Implementation Framework: A roadmap for integrating UNDRIP principles into governance, policies, and board oversight.

Action Planning: Identification of immediate and longer-term steps to support organizational alignment with UNDRIP.

Indigenous Land Trust Sharing Circle
2026-04-24 11:30 - 13:30
Unfortunately, this event has been postponed. If you already registered, we have sent you an email, and will let you know when the new date has been confirmed. If you would like to attend, or for more information, please email Lavy at admin@olta.ca.

The Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) invites you to join our Indigenous Land Trust Sharing Circle, hosted by Becky Big Canoe of Mno Aki Land Trust and facilitated by Clarence Cachagee of Crow Shield Lodge.

This ongoing virtual space is dedicated to building relationships, sharing knowledge, and supporting Indigenous land stewardship. Now in its fourth gathering, the circle continues to bring together Indigenous Land Trusts (ILTs), Indigenous community members, and those connected to the land trust movement to exchange experiences, identify needs, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

This space is centered on Indigenous voices, perspectives, and leadership. Together, we will discuss the realities of Indigenous-led land stewardship, including current priorities, barriers, supports, and ideas for moving this work forward in meaningful ways.

Discussions may include:

– The purpose and activities of Indigenous-led land trusts in Ontario

– Barriers and opportunities in land trust management

– How we can collaborate to strengthen Indigenous land stewardship

– How OLTA can improve its programs and supports for Indigenous land trusts

– Future sharing circles, research, and knowledge-sharing initiatives

We warmly encourage Indigenous participants to attend and to invite others in their networks who may benefit from or contribute to this space. Allies are welcome to join in a listening and learning capacity, and to contribute respectfully when invited.

Join us in this intentional space of dialogue, reflection, and connection as we continue to learn from one another and strengthen the Indigenous land trust community.

Fungal Conservation with Mycosphaera and Nature Québec
2026-07-15 12:00 - 13:30
Fungi play an essential role in ecosystem functioning, yet they remain largely overlooked and underrepresented in biodiversity conservation efforts. While scientific knowledge is advancing rapidly, significant challenges remain in documenting, protecting, and integrating fungi into conservation policies and practices.

This webinar will provide an overview of the current state of fungal conservation in Québec, highlighting the key issues facing this kingdom that is still too often forgotten. The speakers will also present initiatives to advance fungal knowledge and conservation in Québec, including field inventories, citizen science projects, and innovative collaborations among conservation organizations.

In this context, the webinar will showcase the partnership between Mycosphaera and Nature Québec, which are working together to better document fungal diversity in old-growth forests and in areas proposed for protected status in Québec, while raising public awareness about the importance of fungi for ecosystem health.

Join us to discover why biodiversity conservation cannot be truly complete without recognizing and conserving the fungal kingdom.

OLTA's Annual Gathering
2026-10-26 08:00 - 2026-10-28 17:00
t’s official – the 2026 Gathering will be October 26th – 28th! This year’s Gathering will be held at Horseshoe Valley Resort in Barrie, on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe and Huron-Wendat peoples, in the area of the Williams Treaties and Lake Simcoe Treaty 16.

We are in the early stages of planning and further information on the schedule, sessions, registration, and more will follow in the coming months.

You can check out the draft schedule here. Full session information and speaker details will be shared as they are confirmed.

OLTA’s AGM will be held at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 27th.

To Register:

OLTA Member Registration

Non-Member Registration

Early bird registration is open until July 27, 2026. Registration closes October 14, 2026. Additional nights at the discounted conference room rate are extended based on availability and can be booked directly with Horseshoe Valley Resort.

Our Silent Auction is Currently Accepting Donation​

We are once again looking for donations for our silent auction! If you have any items to donate or connections you could share, they would be greatly appreciated. Please connect with Sylvie at sylvie.labrosse@olta.ca.

We look forward to seeing you all at Horseshoe Valley in October!

For more information, head to our Annual Gathering Page.
