HISTORY

It all started in 1998 when a group of Gwinnett County residents formed the Gwinnett Open Land Trust, GOLT, with the specific objective of protecting both open and greenspace, and the river corridors in the county. At a time when Gwinnett County was recognized as the fastest growing county in the nation and development was running rampant. GOLT was the first land conservation organization to be founded specifically for the purpose of identifying and protecting land within Gwinnett County.

At the time, founding member and current Executive Director Carol Hassell stated: "As development intensifies in the county, so does concern about tree cutting, river quality and preserving land in a way that enhances quality of life. It's important to provide a means of protecting some land before it's too late."

In 1999 GOLT put its first property of 13 acres under protection. In 2003 GOLT was approached by a landowner in a neighboring county to protect their property becoming the first non-Gwinnett property placed under protection.

By 2008 GOLT had about 615 acres under protection in Gwinnett and about 255 acres protected in 4 other counties. The board realized it was time for a name change to better reflect the expanded service area and officially became the Georgia Piedmont Land Trust, GPLT, servicing the northern half of Georgia.

In 2015 GPLT went through the rigorous process of becoming a recognized accredited land trust through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was incorporated in April 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance to operate an innovative program to build and recognize strong land trusts, foster public confidence in land conservation and help ensure the long-term protection of land.

Today GPLT has over 2,600 acres of land under protection located in the counties of Bibb, Catoosa, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Rockdale, Upson, Walton, Whitfield and Wilkes. We have a diverse portfolio of protected properties to include Civil War & Revolutionary battlefields in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust, a green cemetery in partnership with the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, watershed restoration properties, conservation subdivision greenspaces, granite outcrops, habitats with threatened species and a community garden in partnership with citizens like you who care about green and open spaces in their communities.

We are proud and privileged to work with likeminded citizens, communities, organizations and municipalities to protect important lands for today and for our children's tomorrow. We believe we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

GPLT Milestones

Georgia Piedmont Land Trust has moved thoughtfully and deliberately to fulfill its mission. Progress for GPLT isn't measured by hundreds or thousands of acres protected in a year or by quantities of properties claimed. We add conservation projects slowly and thoughtfully -- only when we believe the values protected will benefit surrounding community and environment -- and when they expand our list of projects appropriately and positively. Our growth has flowed and ebbed over our history, but we've always kept our eyes on careful, meaningful, positive expansion.

  • 2025 - Renewal of Accreditation: GPLT works toward 2nd renewal of accreditation expected in 2026. First Time accreditation awarded in 2015, 1st Renewal awarded in 2021.

  • 2025 - 2 Properties Protected: GPLT protects 2 properties 1 in Cobb County and 1 in Fulton County.

  • 2024 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Catoosa County.

  • 2023 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Walton County.

  • 2021 - Renewal of Accreditation: GPLT is awarded renewal of accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC).

  • 2021 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Douglas County.

  • 2019 - Kettle Creek Battlefield” GPLT partners with Wilkes County, American Battlefield Trust, Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, Georgia Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Georgia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution to protect the American Revolution battlefield at Kettle Creek.

  • 2019 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Wilkes County.

  • 2018: DAR Awards GPLT: GPLT named Georgia Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) 2018 Conservation Organization.

  • 2018 - 2nd Chestnut Orchard Planted: In partnership with the Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, GPLT plants a second Hybrid American Chestnut Orchard for research.

  • 2018 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Fulton County.

  • 2017 - Cox Conserves Heroes Finalist: Long-time GPLT board member Dale Higdon was selected as a Cox Conserves Heroes Finalist. Dale Higdon retired from the Georgia Forestry Commission in 2008 and began devoting countless hours volunteering for environmental organizations. Dale named GPLT his nonprofit of choice.

  • 2017 - 2 Properties Protected: GPLT protects 2 properties in Upson County.

  • 2016 - Rocky Face Ridge Battlefield: GPLT partners with Whitfield County and American Battlefield Trust to protect the Civil War battlefield at Rocky Face Ridge.

  • 2016 - 3 Properties Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Catoosa County, 1 in Cobb County and 1 in Whitfield County.

  • 2015 - First Time Accreditation: GPLT is awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC)

  • 2015 - Guidestar Designation: GPLT becomes a Guidestar Exchange Gold Participant.

  • 2015 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Gwinnett County.

  • 2013 - Chicaumauga Battlefield: GPLT partners with the American Battlefield Trust to protect properties adjacent to the Chicamauga battlefield.

  • 2013 - Lost Mountain Battlefield: GPLT partners with Trust for Public Lands to protect the Civil War battlefield at Lost Mountain.

  • 2013 - 1st Chestnut Orchard Planted: In partnership with the Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, GPLT plants a Hybrid American Chestnut Orchard for research.

  • 2013 - 6 Properties Protected: GPLT protects 2 properties in Catoosa County, 2 in Cobb County, 1 in Coweta County and 1 in Gwinnett County.

  • 2010 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Rockdale County.

  • 2009 - 1 Property Protected: GPLT protects 1 property in Bibb County.

  • 2008 - Name Changed to GPLT: The Gwinnett Open Land Trust (GOLT) changed its name to the Georgia Piedmont Land Trust (GPLT) to reflect the expanded service area.

  • 2008 - 4 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 2 properties in DeKalb County and 2 in Rockdale County.

  • 2007 - 4 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 3 properties in Gwinnett County and 1 in DeKalb County.

  • 2006 - 1 Property Protected: GOLT protects 1 property in Gwinnett County.

  • 2005 - 5 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 5 properties in Gwinnett County.

  • 2004 - 5 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 4 properties in Gwinnett County and 1 in Hall County.

  • 2003 - 9 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 8 properties in Gwinnett County and 1 in Walton County.

  • 2002 - Named Trustee: GOLT named by Gwinnett County Probate Court as Trustee of an historic cemetery.

  • 2002 - 1 Property Protected: GOLT protects 1 property in Gwinnett County.

  • 2001 - 6 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 6 properties in Gwinnett County.

  • 2000 - 2 Properties Protected: GOLT protects 2 properties in Gwinnett County.

  • 1999 - 1st Property Protected: GOLT protects it first property in Gwinnett County.

  • 1998 - Gwinnett Open Land Trust: The Georgia Piedmont Land Trust is established as the Gwinnett Open Land Trust (GOLT) and begins protecting land in Gwinnett County when Gwinnett was the fastest developing county in the nation.