LAND TRUSTS

Agricultural Trusts: Conservation and Sustainable Development

A tool for the preservation of agricultural land

Land trusts play a vital role in conserving agricultural land and preserving biodiversity in Canada. These non-profit organizations acquire land or interests in land, such as conservation easements, to sustainably protect these spaces from urbanization. In doing so, they support food sovereignty and ecological conservation.

Land trusts allow:

• Protection of land from conversion to non-agricultural land.

• Support for sustainable agricultural practices.

• Affordable access to land for new generations of farmers and low-income farmers.

Promising growth in Canada

The land trust model is growing rapidly through initiatives supported by organizations such as the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts. These trusts are building local and regional capacity by:

• Promoting conservation practices that respect community and ecological needs.

• Now food production and sustainable management of natural resources.

To establish a land trust, it is essential to understand the legal and administrative specificities specific to each region.

Support for land trust management

Several forms of support are essential to help these organizations:

• Legal and Regulatory Advice: Help navigate legal complexities, draft legal documents and manage retention agreements.

• Financial support: Access to funding, grants and donations for land purchase and management.

• Technical assistance: Land use planning and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.

• Community awareness: Educating local communities to encourage their participation in land conservation.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with other organizations to leverage resources and strengthen conservation efforts.

Agrivoltaics: An innovation with double benefit

Agrivoltaics, combining agriculture and solar energy production, represents an innovative and sustainable solution. Its advantages include:

• Tax incentives: Property tax reductions, credits or exemptions for projects that meet ecological and energy criteria.

• Dual land use: Income generation through agriculture and renewable energy production.

To maximize these benefits, it is recommended to consult with tax and energy law experts to effectively navigate local and state regulations.

A commitment to a sustainable future

By supporting land trusts and promoting innovations like agrivoltaics, we contribute to the protection of agricultural land, the preservation of biodiversity, and the sustainable development of rural communities. These initiatives ensure the viability of ecosystems while integrating conservation into long-term strategies.