Resources

Starting a Land Trust

Standards and Practices 2019

Standards and Practices 2005

Nature-based Climate Solutions Webinar Template

Climate Change in Ontario Infographic

Learn About OLTA’s Climate Action Program

OLTA Climate Action / OTF Recognition Webinar

Learn about one of our greatest tools in our fight against climate change  – nature! Nature Based Climate Solutions refer to actions that protect and restore nature which functions to capture and store carbon, reduce carbon emissions and help communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Featured Land Trust Videos

Thames Talbot Land Trust

The Thames Talbot Land Trust restoration project introduces plant species from further south that might be better adapted to warmer climates in their restoration areas.

rare Charitable Research Reserve

There are few cold- and cool-water trout streams remaining in the Region of Waterloo. Bauman Creek, a small tributary of the Grand River located mostly on rare property, supports a self-sustaining population of brook trout. Rare’s Bauman Creek Restoration project helped restore flow to the channel all the way to the Grand River, while also planting several hundred trees.

Haliburton Highlands Land Trust

In 2013, 2017, and again in 2019, the Township of Minden Hills experienced serious flooding and declared a state of emergency. Flooding and erratic weather patterns are a product of climate change. Wetlands provide a critical function in helping prevent flooding. In 2020, HHLT completed a project to address the detrimental impacts of climate change while also protecting over 160 acres of wetland in the county.

Engage and Explore with Nature Series

What is a land trust? How well do you know your local wildlife? You don’t need to leave your home or neighbourhood to experience some of the incredible wildlife that land trusts in Ontario work to protect! Learn about the unique wildlife living in and around urban spaces. We’ll also explore some of resources you can use to get the most out of exploring nature in your own neighbourhood.

Virtual Nature Walk – Happy Valley Forest

Take a pleasant virtual hike through Happy Valley Forest, a beautiful property located in King Township that is managed by Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC). Using this species checklist, you can guide participants through the property and talk about the unique wildlife in the area, and some tips & tricks to identifying them!

Walk ‘n’ Roll at Riverwood

Nature is for bikers and hikers alike! In this webinar, we looked at how cyclists and pedestrians can enjoy Riverwood’s trails safely together, and why trail etiquette matters to both people and local ecosystems. Participants also learned about the wildlife they might spot on their visit, and opportunities to take part in programs led by CultureLink’s Newcomer Cycling Programs and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance.

Monarch Butterfly Festival

In collaboration with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy and CultureLink, OLTA helped host a virtual Monarch Butterfly Festival. Audrey Armstrong, a butterfly expert of 15 years, led participants through a deep dive into the life of the Monarch Butterfly.

The event provided an interactive (videos, polling, Q&A) exploration into the life of the Monarch Butterfly. Participants learned all about Monarch biology, distribution, the tagging process and how to protect them.

Conservation Easements

Owned Lands

 A Volunteer’s Manual for Land Management

1. Manual Cover (692 KB) 
2. Acknowledgements (32 KB)
3. Section Title Pages (30 KB)
4. Table of Contents (21 KB)
5. Section A – Introduction (24 KB)
6. Section B – Volunteers (242 KB)
7. Section C – Getting on the Land (750 KB)
8. Section D – Preparing a Management Plan (100 KB)
9. Section E – Managing Conservation Easements (1.70 MB)

Summary (8 KB) Appendices (874 KB) References (16 KB)

Fundraising Manual

1. Manual Cover (223 KB) 
2. Acknowledgements (26 KB)
3. Section Title Pages (39 KB)
4. Table of Contents (17 KB)
5. Section A – Are You Ready To Start a Fund Development Program? (49 KB)
6. Section B – Identifying Potential Funding Sources (50 KB)
7. Section C – Case Statement (71 KB)
8. Section D – Solicitation Strategies (49 KB)
9. Section E – Stewardship (28 KB)
10. Section F – Database 101 (23 KB)
11. Section G – Benchmarking and Evaluation (34 KB)

Appendices (2.30 MB)

Volunteer Fact Sheet (318 KB) 

Land Securement Manual

1. Manual Cover (1.42 MB)
2. Acknowledgements (10 KB)
3. Section Title Pages (358 KB)
4. Part 1 – Real Estate Basics (55 KB)
5. Part 2 – Securement Options (155 KB)
6. Part 3 – Securement Process (94 KB)
7. Part 4 – Land Valuation and Taxation (110 KB)
8. Part 5 – Land Use Planning (57 KB)
9. Part 6 – Land Management (83 KB)

• Part 2 – Appendix 2A – Agreement of Purchase and Sale (56 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2B – Sample Right of First Refusal (19 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2C – Sample Informal or Handshake Agreement (13 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2D – Sample Management Agreement (18 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2E – Sample Licence Agreement (25 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2F – Sample Lease Agreement (31 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2G – Sample Annotated Conservation Easement (111 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2H – Sample Letters of Intent to Donate (20 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2I – Sample Bequest Wording (15 KB)
• Part 2 – Appendix 2J – Sample Life Interest (Estate) Agreement (26 KB)
• Part 3 – Appendix 3A – Environment Assessment Form (Phase I) (52 KB)
• Part 3 – Appendix 3B – Guidelines for the Review and Acceptance of Property Donations (31 KB)
• Part 3 – Appendix 3C – Site Assessment Criteria (202 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4A – Purchase or Fee Simple Donation – Request For Appraisal Services (16 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4B – Conservation Easement – Request for Appraisal Services (17 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4C – Ecological Gifts (Ontario) Criteria (143 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4E – Ecological Gifts (Ontario) Process (175 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4F – GST Certificate (9 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4G – Revenue Canada Form T2062 (174 KB)
• Part 4 – Appendix 4H – Form of Undertaking for Prescribed Donee (9 KB)
• Part 5 – Appendix 5A – Requirement to Have Regard For Provincial Interests (9 KB)
• Part 5 – Appendix 5B – Provincial Policy Statement (103 KB)
• Part 6 – Appendix 6A – Standard Land Holding Agreement (16 KB)
• Part 6 – Appendix 6B – Standard Custodianship Agreement (14 KB)
• Part 6 – Appendix 6C – Property Monitoring Report Form (24 KB)

Introduction to Cross-border Conservation Information Tools

U.S. taxpayers who own Canadian properties are often interested in transferring their property to the next generation of family members and permanently protecting their lands in Canada.  In both cases, conservation can be a financially valuable strategy. There are tax incentives in both countries to encourage conservation of priority natural lands. Especially notable is how conservation can reduce or eliminate Canadian capital gains taxes on transfers, including bequests. Please explore the tools provided here to learn more.

These tools touch on the key components of U.S. taxpayers’ decisions about whether, when, and how to conserve their Canadian properties. It is not intended to provide tax or legal advice. To fully understand how the tax components mentioned will have an impact on your situation, you must confer with your accountants and lawyers in the U.S. and Canada. 

The tax information provided within these tools is broadly applicable across Canada. The case studies assume that the disposition of property will be in Ontario and subject to the federal non-resident surtax rather than Ontario provincial tax. The calculations do not consider any other province’s tax regulations that may apply to a non-resident.

These tools were published in partnership by OLTA and American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts thanks to a grant from:

Incentives for U.S. Taxpayers Brochure

Cross-border Conservation Handbook