Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a conservancy and a land trust?
A land trust is a nonprofit organization which actively works to protect land through land transactions that include buying or accepting donated land or conservation easements. A conservancy actively works to protect natural resources but may or may not actually acquire land or easements.

How many land trusts exist in Pennsylvania?
There are currently close to 100 organizations that work primarily or exclusively in Pennsylvania with the mission to protect land; of these, four are chapters or branches of national conservation organizations (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund). In addition, there are a few organizations based out of the state that do work within the Commonwealth.

How successful are land trusts in protecting land?
Not only have land trusts been successful in protecting over 395,000 acres of land in Pennsylvania through land and easement acquisitions, land trusts also are becoming more influential in educating landowners, municipal officials, planners and developers in the importance of protecting our precious resources. Land trusts are working with local and county governments to educate the public and manage successful referendum campaigns for open space.

Are these organizations governmental entities or private organizations?
Most land trusts are private charitable corporations. A few are governmental or quasi-governmental agencies that operate with much of the flexibility and freedom of a private land trust.

Is PALTA a land trust or a conservancy?
Neither. The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association is a land trust service center and was created by land trust volunteers and staff who recognized the need for an association that can focus on the broad needs of the conservation movement. PALTA was started as an informal coalition of land trusts in 1991 and is, today, an incorporated nonprofit organization. To learn more, read About the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

How do I find a local land trust that works in my region or county?
PALTA makes it easy to search for a land trust or conservancy in Pennsylvania, simply visit PALTA’s Find a Land Trust (http://conservationtools.org/organizations) to search by name, county or interactive map.

How do I go about donating land or an easement?
Contact a local land trust and begin asking questions. Determine what your needs and wants are for the land and communicate that to the land trust. You can find a local land trust by visiting the Find a Land Trust feature at conservationtools.org.

What can I do to help promote land conservation?
There are numerous ways to help conserve our natural resources; a few simple ways to help include:

• Volunteer for a local land trust (link to find a land trust)
• Make a donation to a local land trust
• Stay informed on conservation information, read the latest issue of ConserveLand Newsletter or sign up to receive PALTA's Email Updates.
• Vote for public officials that promote conservation

If you would like inquire about a topic that has not been addressed above, please email your question to info@conserveland.org.