Conserving Land for a Thriving Future

Learn how land trusts protect the natural and working lands we share and how you can support conservation in Ontario.

Learn about your local land trust.

Stay informed on land conservation efforts.

Contribute to support land conservation in Ontario.

What Are Land Trusts and Why Do They Matter?

Land trusts are non-profit, charitable organizations that acquire land or interests in land (conservation easements) for the purpose of conservation. They take direct action to protect the local land base and hold those lands or conservation easements in trust for future generations.

These organizations play a crucial role in providing essential protection by conserving natural habitats, promoting conservation efforts, and nurturing sustainable practices that benefit that benefit both the present and future.

Climate Resilience & Biodiversity Protection

Land trusts are essential in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. As stewards of sensitive lands, they lead conservation efforts to ensure the protection of habitats and wildlife. Through dedicated action and innovative programs, land trusts show how local efforts can drive meaningful global change in preserving our environment.

Community Well-being

In our fast-paced world, nature is essential for well-being. Land trusts preserve natural spaces, making the beauty and benefits of the land accessible to all. By protecting nature, they foster a strong connection to the environment and promote equitable access, ensuring everyone can enjoy its solace, inspiration, and sustenance.

Indigenous Reconciliation

Ontario land trusts are playing a crucial role in Indigenous reconciliation by actively partnering with Indigenous communities to restore traditional lands and support sustainable stewardship practices. These collaborations aim to recognize and honour the cultural significance of landscapes that have been integral to Indigenous peoples for generations.

Protecting Ontario's Natural Heritage

Discover some of the remarkable lands and waters protected by land trusts across Ontario.

Eden Mills Millpond Lands, conserved by the rare Charitable Research Reserve, stretches across five hectares of vibrant wetlands, floodplains, and forests, safeguarding vital ecosystems for generations to come.

Barrie Island, conserved by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, offers lush forests, cultural meadows, tallgrass prairies, and a scenic six-kilometer trail with breathtaking views.

Stackhouse Forest Sanctuary, conserved by Long Point Basin Land Trust, protects pristine forests and vital biodiversity.

Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island, conserved by Kawartha Land Trust, is the largest undeveloped island in the Kawarthas, home to pristine wetlands, lush forests, and diverse plant and wildlife species.

Deverell-Morton Nature Reserve, conserved by Couchiching Conservancy, protects 169 hectares of vital habitat for species at risk.

Escott Nature Reserve, conserved by Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, features a variety of significant habitats and plays a crucial role in preserving local biodiversity.

Riverside Woods Nature Reserve, conserved by Bruce Trail Conservancy, spans 88 hectares of diverse forests, lush meadows, and wildlife habitats.

Blue Heron Wetlands, conserved by the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust, protect 42 hectares of marsh and forest that are vital for wildlife habitat and the local community's water quality.

Bowen Island, conserved by The Kensington Conservancy, is located in the St. Joseph Channel of Lake Huron. This island is a sanctuary for vital bird species and a hub of rich biodiversity.

Our Collective Impact in Ontario

76K

Hectares Protected

1,650

Properties Protected

105+

Protected At-Risk Species

2M

People Engaged

Voices from the Community

"The Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) recognizes that natural areas, wildlife habitats, and farmlands are intricately connected. By protecting farmland, we also protect the diverse and vital ecosystems that sustain healthy food production, clean water, air quality, and habitats for countless species. Through conservation easements, these landscapes are preserved and managed with care for generations to come. By partnering with farmers and landowners, OFT works to protect critical habitats, promote biodiversity, and encourage sustainable farming practices that benefit both the environment and the communities it supports."

Martin Straathof Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust

"Land trusts enable landowners to protect their land from uses that may degrade its natural value, preserving important attributes such as animal and plant habitats, cultural significance, natural beauty, and agricultural importance. Having established a land trust, Mno Aki Land Trust, we are very excited about the possibility of providing lands for local Indigenous people, in all areas of Canada, to locally manage and steward, donated lands for cultural revitalization according to their own definitions of what is needed to accomplish that goal."

Rebecca Big CanoeCo-Founder, Mno Aki Land Trust

“Land trusts can provide meaningful ways for people to connect with nature, which is one of the driving motivations of the Bruce Trail Conservancy. As we protect vulnerable lands across the Niagara Escarpment, we enable free public access to the Bruce Trail, offering people a place to explore, deepen their relationship with the natural world, and discover incredible biodiversity that can only be found here in Ontario. In doing so, we invest in the wellbeing of our communities now and for generations to come, while safeguarding the species who depend on our care of the land for their very survival.”

Michael McDonald Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Trail Conservancy

Find a Local Land Trust

Many land trusts offer publicly accessible properties. Visit their websites or contact them for the latest access information.

Join Our Newsletter

Stay informed on land conservation efforts through our monthly e-newsletter.

Give to Protect the Land We All Share

Make a contribution to help safeguard Ontario's natural heritage for future generations.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge and are grateful to Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of the land. For many thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have inhabited, cared for, and used these lands and waters, applying original instructions, Indigenous knowledge systems, and laws. We also acknowledge those Indigenous Peoples, and other peoples who currently live, work, play, and learn on the lands around us. We believe that, as a community, we need to learn about, engage, and uphold our role within treaties, settler responsibilities, and natural law in order to honor our ongoing commitment to meaningful reconciliation with all Indigenous Peoples on whose treaty and ancestral territories we live and work. We are mindful of broken covenants and the need to reconcile with all our relations.

Conserving Land for a Thriving Future

Learn about your local land trust.

Stay informed on land conservation efforts.

Contribute to support land conservation in Ontario.

What Are Land Trusts and Why Do They Matter?

Climate Resilience

Biodiversity Protection

Community Well-being

Indigenous Reconciliation

Climate Resilience & Biodiversity Protection

Community Well-being

Indigenous Reconciliation

Protecting Ontario's Natural Heritage

Our Collective Impact in Ontario

76K

1,650

105+

2M

Voices from the Community

Find a Local Land Trust

Join Our Newsletter

Give to Protect the Land We All Share

Land Acknowledgment

Share With Your Network

Top Links

Connect With Us

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