.jpeg)
What’s the secret to making Canada’s land trusts even more effective? Across Canada, 150+ local and regional land conservation organizations are protecting our country’s forests, farmland, wetlands, grasslands and other natural areas. “It’s crucial work,” says Lara Ellis, executive director of the Centre for Land Conservation (CLC). “They’re safeguarding wildlife habitat, building our resilience to climate change and preserving greenspaces where we connect and play.” To do that, they need the confidence of donors and landowners. That’s why CLC launched Conservation Excellence Certification — a voluntary program recognizing organizations that meet the highest standards of transparency, accountability and impact. In March 2025, six land trusts achieved certification. According to Judie Steeves of B.C.’s Southern Interior Land Trust, going through the rigorous assessment was worth the effort. “This recognition will help us build stronger partnerships and secure more habitat for wildlife,” she says. In fact, more than 80 per cent of Canadian donors said they’d be more likely to support a land trust with this kind of third-party validation. And in the U.S., accredited organizations have conserved three times as much land, increased their budgets three times as much and attracted more than twice as many volunteers as non-accredited ones. Want to enjoy those benefits? Read the full story. Read the full story
Read more.png)
The Centre for Land Conservation (CLC) announces the first Canadian land trusts to achieve Conservation Excellence Certification, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Canada's land conservation sector.The certification promotes conservation excellence through third-party evaluation of conservation impact, governance, and organizational sustainability against nationally adopted standards and practices.
Read more