Time is running out. Our most precious lands in southern Ontario are under threat. Some predict we are too late; some say we have only a very few years to secure essential lands required to keep our lands and wildlife healthy in perpetuity. We believe we have a chance - with your help.

How you can help conserve land in Ontario forever:

- Join your local land trust today.
- Make a donation to your local land trust.
- Add a Bequest to your will
- Advocate for land conservation in your municipality.
- Learn about the benefits of community-based land trusts for the protection of local land and share your knowledge widely.
Education & Training
 
Education and Training is an integral component of OLTA’s support services to its members. Ever since the first gathering of the then Ontario Nature Trust Alliance in 1998, OLTA has continued to deliver high standard education and training programs in Canada through its regional workshops, annual gatherings and the new organizational assessment program.
 
Ontario Land Trust Alliance provides instructional tools to help land trusts understand and implement the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices.  
 
 
Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their support of $300,800 over 36 months to build the organizational capacity of Ontario's Land Trusts by delivering OLTA's Assessing Your Organization (AYO), a program that assists Ontario land trusts in achieving the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices.
  
Resources for Implementing the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices
Annual Gathering
 
 The Annual Gathering brings together the staff and volunteers of OLTA’s member land trusts as well as representatives from government agencies, conservation authorities, and industry experts. These conferences present excellent opportunities to share knowledge and learn about new initiatives in the land trust community.

To view a schedule of activities of all past Gatherings, please Click here
 
Regional Workshops
 
Every year the Ontario Land Trust Alliance holds a series of regional workshops throughout Ontario. These workshops provide training opportunities to volunteers and staff of land trust organizations to better enable them to accomplish the goals and objectives of their organizations.
 
To view a schedule of activities of all past Regional Workshops, please Click here  
 
Assessing Your Organization (AYO) Program
 
In 2007, OLTA launched its Organizational Assessment Program. This program is intended to help strengthen land trusts through a systematic review and discussion of their governance and operating practices in light of the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices. Through the guidance of OLTA facilitators, the assessment process helps land trust boards meet legal requirements and regulations, recruit and train excellent board members, set priorities for organizational development, as well as secure land efficiently and effectively for conservation and protection.
 
The main tool used for this program is the Assessing Your Organization: Using Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices workbook. Assessing Your Organization is designed to complement the 2005 Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices and is created for land trusts and other entities that wish to undertake an analysis of their organization’s progress toward implementing the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices.

Testimonials from participants of OLTA’s Organizational Assessment Program:
 
“This is a good prelude to a 5-year strategic planning process. I think we were mostly aware of pending issues with plans for addressing them –This lights a fire under us, highlights needs so we’re clearer as a group.” 
            - Couchiching Conservancy

“Good ‘wake-up’ call for what we need to get going on.”
            - Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust

For more information on the Organizational Assessment Program of OLTA or if you would like to sign-up your organization for a future workshop, please contact OLTA. OLTA hopes that this program helps your organization in its land conservation work!