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    Successful land conservation is based on solid, sustainable conservation stewardship that includes enforcement and defense. Conservation defense resources offer attorneys and other allied professionals and land trust personnel comprehensive guidance to reduce and respond to stewardship challenges. From curated conservation case law summaries and legal opinions to our popular Practical Pointer series, we offer resources to help you safeguard the land and easements in your care.

    Safeguarding conservation

    Programs and initiatives

    The Land Trust Alliance offers our members access to programs and initiatives to help your organization safeguard conservation.

    Terrafirma

    Terrafirma offers one-of-a-kind coverage for land trusts to offset the costs of legal action to defend the public liability for land owned by a land trust and conservation easements.

    In 2011, the Alliance formed Terrafirma Risk Retention Group, LLC, to meet land trusts’ unique need to prepare for the legal costs of conservation defense. Terrafirma is a tax-exempt organization that is owned exclusively by its members — over 500 land trusts across the nation.

    Nonprofit Risk Management Center

    Land trust members of the Alliance have a complimentary affiliate membership to the Nonprofit Risk Management Center! Affiliate Members enjoy a buffet of exclusive resources that help them develop in-house risk management expertise and custom risk management plans and policies, plus insurance analysis resources, the best in nonprofit governance and free fast answers to quick questions about nonprofit management.

    If you have not already accessed this benefit, you can create an account to start your Affiliate Member benefits, click on the Affiliate login located in the upper right corner and follow the prompts.

    Risk management program

    The discipline of risk management offers principles, tools, frameworks and strategies land trust board and staff can employ to fulfill their responsibilities to their land trusts, including how they will steward the land they conserve, while also ensuring the proper use and protection of financial, human and other assets essential to advance the mission of the land trust.

    Practical Pointers

    The Practical Pointer Series contain practical tips to help land trusts stay informed and navigate the risks associated with specific legal challenges in land conservation. Topics range from mortgage subordination to managing neighbor disputes.

    The Land Trust Alliance is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional counsel. If a land trust requires legal advice or other expert assistance, seek the services of competent professionals.

    The Tenth Symposium on Advanced Legal Topics in Land Conservation, June 11-12, 2025

    The Symposium offers land trust staff, attorneys, volunteers, and other professionals the opportunity to stay informed on the latest developments at the intersection of law and land conservation, including issues related to stewardship of preserves and conservation easements, real property transactions, private and public partnerships, governmental programs and federal tax law, and practical legal solutions to complex conservation challenges.

    Registration will open on April 7. All sessions will be live presentations using Zoom.

    Relevant Standards & Practices

    This topic relates to the following components of Land Trust Standards and Practices:

    Join the conversation

    Discuss conservation defense topics with other Land Trust Alliance members.

    Resources for Safeguarding conservation

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