What Is a Land Trust?

Californians need clean water and air, places to play and rejuvenate, healthy and affordable food, scenic beauty, and natural areas to experience and learn. Land trusts protect the lands that provide these benefits. These lands are critical to the well being of Californians -- to our quality of life, our children's future and our love of California.

Land trusts are rooted in local communities, and work to protect local places of value and importance. Land trust board members, staff and volunteers reside in the areas they work. They join with fellow community members to respond to local needs and protect local places. Together, through community after community, it adds up to protecting the best of California.

Land trusts work through partnerships. They bring together local community members, landowners, public and private funders, non-profit organizations, and public agencies to protect and steward the land. Land trusts' partnerships are unique responses to local needs and priorities, landowner desires, and the conservation goals for a property.