Land trusts are private, nonprofit organizations which are funded through membership dues and donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations. There are over 1000 land trusts in the United States with nearly 40 in Colorado. The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land are two well-known national land trusts. Land trusts protect land permanently and directly by accepting donations of land, buying land, or helping landowners establish legal restrictions that limit harmful use and development.
Land trusts protect land that has natural, recreational, scenic, historic or productive value.
We believe that open space enhances our quality of life, protects our health and welfare, preserves our heritage, and makes economic sense. We think that public policies should balance open space and land development. And we also firmly believe that respect for property rights is essential to land conservation. The Eagle Valley Land Trust strategic plan includes preservation of view corridors along I-70, habitat protection, especially winter range for elk and other large mammals, and preservation of agriculture. We are working throughout Eagle County, both in the I-70 corridor and in the more rural areas.