HOW WE PROTECT

Land trusts may protect land through direct involvement in land transactions, including purchase or donations of land or of conservation easements. Some manage land owned by others. They may also work cooperatively with developers, government agencies and other nonprofit organizations in projects of protection or development of open space plans.

GPLT partners with private landowners, municipalities and counties, and other non-profit organizations to cooperatively help them realize their long-term vision for the protection of their land. These lands benefit their communities by making them desirable places to live, work and play.

When GPLT puts a property under protection we are committing to protect the conservation values of the land in perpetuity. This means that we must visit each property annually to ensure that the conservation values have not been violated and corrective action is taken if and when necessary.

GPLT has a diverse portfolio of properties placed under protection via a fee simple donation or a conservation easement donation. These properties include:

  • Historic battlefields in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust, Trust for Public Land and other historic preservation organizations

  • A green cemetery in partnership with the Monastery of the Holy Spirit

  • Watershed restoration properties

  • Wetlands

  • Conservation subdivision green spaces

  • Granite outcrops

  • Habitats, some with threatened species

  • A community garden in partnership with the Wylde Center

We evaluate each land protection opportunity individually to determine its unique conservation values and address the landowner's concerns and goals.