Webinar
2025 Webinar Pass

The What, How and Why of Drones for Land Trusts

Location / Date
November 6, 2025 | 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern | Online
Source
Land Trust Alliance
Instructor
Rory Thibault, Dirk Ruff, Chris Long
A white drone hovers over a snow covered mountain landscape
About This Webinar

Has your land trust thought about using drones for monitoring, baseline documentation or current conditions reports, but you aren’t sure where to start? Whether the hurdle is understanding how drone photography works or deciding how to budget, this webinar is for you. Stewardship and land protection staff and volunteers will learn the basics of what drones are and how they work from Rory Thibault, land protection specialist at Land Conservancy of Western Michigan. Dirk Ruff, land protection and conservation specialist, will share the structure and goals of Little Traverse Conservancy’s 4-year-old drone program. Chris Long, conservation easement manager, will share the story of starting the new drone program at Land Conservancy of Western Michigan. Here’s a look at what we will cover:

  • What drones are and how they work.

  • Drone photography for monitoring, baseline reports and current conditions reports.

  • Financial and other resources your organization would need to start a drone program.

  • How drones may interface with mapping software and geospatial data.

  • Automating flight plans and paths for boundary flights and other specific-point flights.

  • Lessons learned from a well-established drone program as well as a newer program.

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.

Disclaimer

These resources are provided "as is" for informational purposes only, without warranty of any kind. They do not constitute legal or professional advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. They may not reflect current legal developments and should be adapted for your organization with qualified professional help. The Alliance is not liable for any damages arising from use of or reliance on these resources. Views in individual posts and third-party links/logos are not Alliance endorsements. The Alliance is committed to equal opportunity and does not condone unlawful discrimination.

For accreditation-related materials, please also consult the Land Trust Accreditation Commission website.