What We Do

The land trusts of Alaska work passionately to secure the best and most cherished places that Alaska has to offer for present and future generations.

A land trust is a nonprofit that works with individuals and partners to conserve land.

There are more than 1,300 land trusts across the country – all working to preserve special places and local ways of life for generations to come.

Land trusts conserve land by 1) acquiring land outright or, 2) by acquiring or assisting with a conservation easement.

A conservation easement is a voluntary, legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently restricts uses of the land to preserve its conservation values. A conservation easement stays with the land forever.

No. Land trusts across the nation unanimously uphold the idea that important lands should be preserved for generations to come, but each organization approaches this idea differently. Each land trust will have its own priorities, partnerships, plan, service region, and mission.

Some land trusts serve a small geographic area, while others are statewide, national, or even international. Some focus on a particular habitat – wetlands, for instance, while others concentrate on a species, issue areas, or recreation opportunities.

It’s the land trust’s job to make sure that the restrictions described in the easement are actually carried out. To do this, the land trust monitors the property on a regular basis, typically once a year. The land trust works with the landowners to make sure that activities on the land are consistent with the easement. If necessary, the land trust is responsible for taking legal action to enforce the easement.