The Minnesota Land Trust is a conservation non-profit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that works with private landowners to conserve land through voluntary land conservation agreements.
The Land Trust’s mission is to protect Minnesota’s most vital natural lands to provide wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor experiences, and scenic beauty for generations to come.
Since 1991, the Land Trust has partnered with hundreds of Minnesota landowners to permanently protect over 82,000 acres of natural land and 522 miles of fragile shoreline throughout the state. In addition, we’ve restored over 7,400 acres of critical habitat.
Mission
The Minnesota Land Trust protects and restores Minnesota’s most vital natural lands in order to provide wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor experiences and scenic beauty for generations to come.
Organizational Overview
A 501(c)3 public charity, the Minnesota Land Trust has been working with landowners and local communities since 1991 to protect and enhance Minnesota’s increasingly threatened lands and waters.
Strategies
- PROTECT: Permanently protecting land through conservation easements and effective land management.
- RESTORE: Helping landowners restore their protected lands to natural and native habitat for birds, wildlife, and human recreation by working in partnership with other experts.
- ENGAGE: Fostering a conservation ethos by building connections to nature and increasing access to meaningful nature experiences for all Minnesotans, connecting conservation partners to amplify our impact.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice
The Minnesota Land Trust is committed to becoming a more diverse, inclusive, equitable and just organization and embodying the values of DEIJ in all its work.
In 2020, the organization began a process of education, reflection, and planning which resulted in the development of a values and vision statement, goals, commitments, strategies, and tactics in support of DEIJ within the organization and the broader conservation and restoration community.
Learn more about Minnesota Land Trust’s DEIJ commitment.
History
The Minnesota Land Trust is rooted in a strong tradition of the land trust movement that began in Massachusetts in 1891 and now stretches across the country.
In 1991, a group of Minnesota citizens committed to maintaining the rural character of their community formed the Washington County Land Trust, Minnesota’s first land trust.
By 1993, responding to the interest from citizens throughout the state, the Washington County Land Trust expanded its vision and mission, becoming the Minnesota Land Trust and offering its services to the entire state.
Since its earliest days, the organization has remained true to its mission, working hard throughout the state to protect and restore our most vital natural lands in order to provide wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor experiences and scenic beauty for generations to come.
