Land trusts are local grassroots conservation groups which help local governments preserve the character of their communities by working to protect and preserve open space and valuable resources. In addition, they can save the local governments money by raising funds to privately acquire land which can then be preserved without government money.
Land trusts can also play the role of mediator, planner, and consensus builder in land use disputes.
Finally, land trusts can act as a surrogate staff to financially strapped government agencies. Land trusts are special because they are local, and are in touch with the interests of the community and landowners. Land trusts come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and may represent a variety of interests. They range in scope from small, all volunteer groups, to larger organizations with professional staff. The people behind these groups are strongly motivated by ideals and vision, yet the approach is very pragmatic.