Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects

“In advance of every land and conservation agreement transaction, land trusts carefully evaluate and select their conservation projects.”

 

Practices:

A. Strategic Conservation Planning
  1. Identify specific conservation priorities consistent with the land trust’s mission and goals.

Resources:

Guidelines for Species Conservation Planning IUCN 2017 ——————- pdf
Beyond Islands of Green Environment Canada 2005 3,114 KB pdf
How Much Habitat is Enough – 3rd Ed Environment Canada 2013 1,956 KB pdf
Great Lakes Terrestrial Blueprint Nature Conservancy of Canada 2005 50,416 KB pdf
Vaughan Land Securement Criteria  City of Vaughan / Orland Conservation 2014 1,226 KB pdf
The Kawarthas, Naturally Connected: A Natural Heritage System for the Kawartha Lakes Region. Phase 1: Project Report Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 2013 6,266 KB pdf
Documenting and Protecting Biodiversity on Land Trust Projects Land Trust Alliance 2011 53,414 KB website
Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation  The Conservation Measures Partnership 2013 3,527 KB pdf
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B. Project Selection Criteria
  1. Develop and implement a written process to select land and conservation agreement projects.
  2. Develop and apply written project-selection criteria that are consistent with the land trust’s conservation priorities,
  3. Document the conservation benefit of every land and conservation agreement project.

Resources:

Property Acquisition and Disposal Policy – Template Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 39 KB pdf
Selection Procedure – Template Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 69 KB pdf
Greenlands Acquisition Project for 2016-2020 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority  2016   1,735 KB pdf
Regional Land Securement Strategy Edmonton and Area Land Trust 2009 84 KB pdf
Land Trust XYZ Property Summary Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 52 KB word
Securement Directions & Principles Policy Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust 2019 277 KB pdf
Eco-gifts: Ontario Criteria for Ecologically Sensitive Lands Environment Canada ————————– 83 KB pdf
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C. Project Evaluation
  1. Visually inspect properties before buying or accepting donations of conservation land or conservation agreements to determine and document whether:
    1. There are important conservation values on the property.
    2. The project meets the land trust’s project-selection criteria.
  2. Evaluate and document potential threats to the conservation values on the property and structure the project to best protect those conservation values.
  3. Evaluate and document any current or potential risks and liabilities associated with the project, including the land trust’s reputation or to the land trust community, and modify or decline the project if the risks outweigh the benefits.

Resources:

Agricultural Site Assessment – Sample Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 118 KB word
Cultural Site Assessment  – Sample Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 53 KB word
Environmental Site Assessment – Sample Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 179 KB word
Natural Values Site Assessment – Sample Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 103 KB word
Hazard Analysis – Sample Ontario Land Trust Alliance ————————– 123 KB pdf
Property Record Ontario Farmland Trust ————————– 56 KB pdf
Land Acquisition Policy  Land Conservancy for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington ————————– 509 KB pdf
Peel Greenlands Securement Program Implementation Guidelines , Appendix V and VI Peel Region 2018 581 KB pdf
Cootes to Escarpment Land Securement Strategy, Appendix 8 Cootes to Escarpment  2018 1,091 KB pdf
Land Trust XYZ Property Summary Ontario Land Trust Alliance ——————— 52 KB word
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D. Project Planning
  1. Individually plan all land and conservation agreement projects so that:
    1. The land trust identifies the best available conservation strategy for the property
    2. The property’s important conservation values are protected
    3. The property furthers the land trust’s mission and goals
    4. Assess the stewardship implications of each project and the land trusts capacity to meet those obligation.

Resources:

OLTA Land Securement Manual, Section 3.4 Ontario Land Trust Alliance 2003 1,821 KB pdf
Land Securement Procedural Checklist Ontario Farmland Trust ———————– 66 KB pdf
Property Securement Process Checklist Ontario Land Trust Alliance ———————– 73 KB pdf
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E. Partnership Documentation
  1. When engaging in a partnership on a joint acquisition or long-term stewardship project or when co-holding a conservation agreement, create written agreements to clarify:
    1. The goals of the project.
    2. The roles and responsibilities of each party.
    3. Legal and financial arrangements.
    4. Communications to the public and between parties.

Resources:

Principles for Partnership – Sample Ontario Land Trust Alliance 2018 62 KB pdf
Partnership Policy – Template Ontario Land Trust Alliance ———————- 6 KB pdf
Step Three: Building Partnership Agreements Nature Conservancy (US) ———————- ——– Website
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