When it comes to protecting America’s landscapes, land trusts play a vital role. These nonprofit organizations work hand-in-hand with landowners to safeguard forests, wetlands, wildlife habitat, farmland, and more for generations to come.

In a recent episode of the National Land Podcast, Sara Johnson, a conservation biologist with the North American Land Trust (NALT), and Doug Bruggeman, an ecological economist and Broker with National Land Realty, shared insights into how land trusts operate and why they matter.

What Do Land Trusts Actually Do?

At their core, land trusts serve as stewards of private land conservation. They facilitate and hold conservation easements, legally binding agreements that limit certain types of development while allowing sustainable uses such as agriculture, hunting, or recreation.

Johnson explained her own role this way: “My role is primarily as a biologist that comes to a new oncoming conservation easement and assesses the conservation values of a property… describing the habitat type, the soil type, the current uses of the property, and some of the unique features of it.”

This assessment forms the baseline for stewardship. Once an easement is in place, land trusts remain actively engaged, ensuring the agreement is honored while also supporting landowners. “We make sure that we touch base with landowners every year and do a site visit every three years, and that ensures that they are basically complying with those conservation values… but also gives us that opportunity to say, how can we help you?” Johnson added.

A History of Protection

The North American Land Trust has been operating since 1992, when it was founded in Pennsylvania. Today, it protects nearly 140,000 acres across 24 states. While national in scope, NALT focuses resources on several biodiversity-rich, high-pressure regions such as Pennsylvania, Texas’s Gulf Coast, and the Carolinas.

As Johnson described, “These areas are really important for land protection, because not only are they very diverse, bio diverse areas… they also have very high development and other threats and pressures that are kind of making us work harder in these areas.”

By combining national expertise with regional focus, land trusts like NALT can adapt to unique local conservation needs.

Supporting Landowners and Families

A significant part of land trust work is helping families achieve long-term goals for their property. Many landowners want to ensure that the land they’ve managed won’t be subdivided or developed against their wishes.

“Another [motivation] is primarily individuals who just want to ensure that the hard work that they have done on their property for many years does not discontinue once they pass on that land to the next person… It’s a legacy for many folks.”

In this way, land trusts become guardians of both natural and cultural heritage, helping families preserve not only ecosystems but also traditions tied to the land.

Why Land Trusts Matter

Private lands make up roughly 60% of U.S. acreage, and as Johnson pointed out, they represent “an enormous area of opportunity” for conservation. With only 13% of land in the lower 48 states under public protection, private land trusts are essential to filling the gap.

As Bruggeman summarized, “It’s important to know that we have these deed restrictions and strategies to provide these public goods and services. I mean, clean air and clean water, they come from somewhere. It comes from some effort, and so it’s great to see folks like North American Land Trust that are providing this critical service.”

Land trusts may not often make headlines, but their role is indispensable. By partnering with landowners, customizing conservation solutions, and committing to perpetual stewardship, organizations like the North American Land Trust ensure that future generations inherit not just land, but landscapes rich in biodiversity, heritage, and opportunity.

If you’re interested in joining a land trust, get in touch with your local Land Professional today!