Building Resilient Communities: The Role of Land Conservation in Climate Adaptation

Communities across the United States are facing challenges from flooding, extreme heat, drought and sea level rise. Land trusts know that their organizations could offer solutions through conservation and habitat restoration, but organizations often feel stymied by perceived lack of community interest in their work. By building relationships with community partners, land trusts can co-create action plans that improve local climate resilience while growing residents’ interest in conserving and restoring natural landscapes.   

This webinar showcases three land trusts playing vital roles in strengthening community resilience against the escalating impacts of climate change. Speakers from across the country will highlight ways to meet people where they are and offer lessons learned for authentic community engagement in towns and cities of different sizes and geographies. Through case studies, participants will gain practical insight on how to use data, gain trust and build relationships to integrate land conservation into broader climate adaptation and community resilience efforts. A short exercise will jump start participants’ application of topics covered to their own work. Here’s a look at what we will cover:  

• How Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas effectively and equitably connects multiple cultural and socio-economic communities that co-exist within the greater San Antonio area to protect drinking water and reduce impacts of drought.   

• How Baltimore Green Space leverages their residents’ desire for community gardens and urban forests to document how green spaces reduce flooding and urban heat islands while improving water quality.   

• Open Space Institute and Thrive Regional Partnership’s proven planning process for community engagement and gaining support for conservation solutions to flooding in 16 counties and four states surrounding Chattanooga, TN.   

• Land Trust Alliance resources and connections your organization can use to get started.   

This webinar is included in the 2025 Webinar Pass.

Participants in Land Trust Alliance events should review and agree to the Alliance Code of Conduct.