Protecting Land
The Power of Conservation
Land trusts are nonprofit conservation organizations that permanently protect land for habitat, community health, climate resilience, and economic benefits, like keeping working lands open and productive.
While each land trust is unique, across the country, land trusts are saving land and harnessing the power of conservation to help make their communities stronger.
What is a Land Trust and How Does One Work?
Landowners work with a Land Trust when they want to permanently protect wetlands, floodplains, farmlands, wildlife corridors, working forests, and scenic areas from inappropriate development.
How We Protect Land
The most common way land trusts protect land is by placing easements on private land in partnership with the landowners. Conservation easements are voluntary, permanent legal agreements between a landowner and the Land Trust. Each easement is designed specifically for the property it protects, and most often limits development rights while protecting the land’s farming, forestland, and/or habitat values.
Our Focus on Farmland
Working farms are an essential part of our region’s cultural and physical landscape, shaping our economy, our local food security, and our ways of life.
We all have a stake in keeping our shared lands open, productive, and healthy.
Our Focus on Fish and Wildlife Habitat
A landscape rich in wildlife habitat brings many benefits. Among the benefits are the ecosystem services these landscapes provide, such as cleaning our air and water, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, and providing naturally scenic vistas.
Our Focus on Forests
While helping to keep the air and water clean and sequester carbon, large tracks of working timberlands also provide wildlife habitat, create jobs, and support our local economy.
Save Your Land
Are you interested in protecting your unique corner of Jefferson County for generations to come?
If so, click on the button below to see if working with Jefferson Land Trust could help you do so.