Start A Land Trust
Learn the essential steps to start a land trust and help protect Canada’s natural heritage.
Starting a land trust is a meaningful and impactful way to protect Canada’s natural spaces.
Whether your focus is on conserving forests, wetlands, or other vital ecosystems, here’s how to get started on your conservation journey.
1. Is starting a land trust right for you?
Understand the basics: Land trusts are a non-profit charitable organization that holds as its core values the conservation of private property through donation, acquisition and/or conservation agreements (easements and covenants).
Assess your goals: Before starting a land trust, consider your community’s need for land conservation. Assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts. Is there an urgent need for protection in your area? Do you have local support? Do you have a dedicated and skilled team to start a land trust? What are your conservation goals?
2. Understand the Landscape
Joaquin Riesgo
Research existing land trusts near you through directories from:
- the Ontario Land Trust Alliance,
- the Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia,
- Réseau des milieux naturels protégés, and
- the Regional Land Trusts of Alberta.
Reach out to these organizations to explore partnerships or opportunities for collaboration.
3. Consult the resources
Get acquainted with the Standards and Practices for Land Trusts, and understand the importance of having the necessary resources to meet these standards as your organization grows.
In collaboration with the regional alliances, we have developed a comprehensive Land Trust Starter Kit
. This valuable resource is designed to guide groups through the process of establishing a new land trust in their community.
4. Charitable Status and Legal Considerations
Obtaining charitable status is an important step for land trusts, providing access to fundraising opportunities, tax incentives, and other benefits. Many land trusts register as charities with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
You want more information on the responsibilities and benefits of this designation or on qualified donee status?
Consult legal experts to help navigate the application process and ensure that your land trust complies with all necessary regulations.
Explore alternatives
While forming a land trust is a viable option, it may not always be the best solution. In certain cases, partnering with existing conservation groups or participating in regional land-use planning may be more effective.
Consider the following organizations and initiatives when exploring alternatives:
- Local, provincial, territorial, or national land trusts
- Indigenous communities and organizations
- Conservation or watershed agencies
- Local governments and land holding programs
- Community foundations
Did you know?
Indigenous territories cover approximately 20% of the Earth’s land surface and harbor 80% of the remaining global biodiversity. Indigenous-led conservation efforts are crucial in protecting these vital ecosystems and combating environmental challenges. (Source: IISD)
Indigenous-Led Land Trusts: Bridging Conservation and Culture
Traditional land trusts often follow Western conservation models rooted in colonial systems and based on private property ownership, which can limit alignment with Indigenous values and practices. Indigenous-led land trusts (ILTs) offer an alternative, enabling communities to steward their lands, preserve cultural traditions, and reconnect with their territories.
However, ILTs must navigate challenges within these frameworks, such as legal restrictions on Band land ownership and the colonial concept of “owning land,” which may conflict with Indigenous worldviews. Communities may also explore alternative approaches, like land-sharing networks, to support traditional land use without adopting a formal trust structure.
Starting an ILT is an opportunity to protect land while honoring Indigenous perspectives, fostering cultural revitalization, and adapting conservation to reflect shared values.
