Who We Are

Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) is a registered charity focused on providing community, knowledge sharing and support to land trusts and other groups committed to land conservation across Ontario. OLTA’s work is guided by OLTA’s Strategic Plan (2021 – 24), which lays the foundation for where we want to be as an organization, and how we will realize our shared vision.

By strategically protecting land, we contribute essential solutions to biodiversity loss and climate change. Restoring and protecting forests, wetlands, grasslands and farmland are nature-based climate solutions. Nature absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores carbon in plants and soil. Nature also shields against storm surges, absorbs the worst effects of flooding and protects biodiversity. Nature does the heavy lifting for us. All we have to do is protect it.

Our members and partners work from Rainy Lake in the west, to Windsor in the south, and Cornwall in the east, in 50 connected charities and communities. Ontario Land Trust Alliance’s local land trust members collectively own and care for over 135,000 acres across Ontario, engaging the support of thousands of volunteers and supporters annually.

OLTA connects the land conservation community by sharing knowledge and best practices, reducing financial barriers to land conservation, promoting organizational excellence, sharing access to current research and Indigenous knowledge systems and acting as a voice for land trusts among the public, governments and other rights holders and partners.

OLTA requires all of its Land Trust Members to actively work towards adherence to the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices.

OLTA is a registered charity – 869437517RR0001.

 

Vision

A landscape rich with connected and protected spaces, supported by a thriving conservation community.

Mission

Empowering a vibrant and enduring land trust community in Ontario.

Values

Our values guide our actions and they represent who we are as an organization and community. They influence our actions and decision making.

Collaboration	You add value. Together we strengthen the land trust community by sharing knowledge and ideas.
Equity	You are included. We are a continually learning organization that embraces a variety of perspectives and actively seeks to engage with people of all cultures and backgrounds.
Respect	We will listen. We care about your opinion and will operate with kindness and compassion.
Integrity	We will earn your trust. We are committed to being transparent, accessible and responsible, and using best available knowledge.
Leadership	We will raise the bar.  We will set an example for ethical decision making and best practices in land conservation.
Resiliency	We will endure. We are committed to protecting the land you love forever.
Reconciliation	We will learn. We will work with Indigenous Peoples in the spirit and practice of reconciliation, honouring Indigenous interests, responsibilities, rights, Treaties, protocols and Knowledge Systems.

History 

OLTA was established in 1997 as a committee of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists known as the Ontario Nature Trust Alliance with 14 founding members. In July 2002, with a membership of 23 land trusts, it was decided to incorporate as a new independent organization named the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. This change better reflected the activities of all its members, which now included recreational, agricultural and built heritage as well as natural heritage properties.