Land Trusts are local, regional, or statewide nonprofit conservation organizations directly involved in helping protect natural, scenic, recreational, agricultural, historic or cultural property.   The main function for most land trusts are to preserve open land that is important to the community where they operate: rural, urban, or suburban.   There are currently land trusts operating in every state in the nation, all working to protect land of local, regional, and national importance.

America's first land trust is over 100 years old; however, half of the nation's land trusts have been formed within the last decade.   With public funds for conservation shrinking and resistance to government regulation growing; land trusts' innovative, responsive approach has made them the ideal answer to many of today's conservation problems.

The Platte Land Trust supports opportunities for responsible growth while conserving the natural resources.

What does a Land Trust do?

• Educates about the values of protecting open space
• Protects a variety of lands including: scenic vistas, streams, forests, wetlands, deserts, parks, greenways, farmlands, and more
• Obtains land to ensure open space use
• Secures conservation easements on land and monitor the terms in perpetuity
• Works in partnership with other conservation agencies to advance mutual goals

What does a Land Trust obtain land?

• Land Purchase:  the trust buys the land outright.   Although sometimes feasible, most land trusts do not have the funds to purchase land.
• Land Donations: land ownership is donated to a trust. 
• Life Estates: a legal instrument through which a property owner donates land to a trust upon their death, while retaining the right to live on the property for the remainder of their life.
• Conservation Easements:  a legal document listing a number of restrictions a landowner wishes to place on their land.  The document becomes part of the deed and is recorded in the county registry.  If the land changes ownership, the new owner is bound by the terms of the easement so that the original landowner's wishes are respected.