We are committed to protecting and preserving the Willamette Valley—this awe-inspiring place that we love here in western Oregon. We are driven by a shared understanding that if we fail to protect these treasured lands, we will not get them back—and something essential to our culture, economy, and environment will be lost, forever.
Greenbelt Land Trust is a local land conservation 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on protecting ecologically, agriculturally, and historically significant lands in the mid-Willamette Valley. We work strategically to secure significant natural areas in accordance with a careful plan. And we strive for connectivity, linking protected natural areas with parks and public spaces to provide wildlife corridors, protect valuable natural resources, and expand opportunities for low-impact recreation and renewal. Protected—and connected—these natural areas make our communities more desirable as places to live and work, and help preserve Oregon’s distinctive landscape and character.
Greenbelt Land Trust conserves and cares for lands that are and continue to be the traditional lands of Native Americans in our region. Since time immemorial, bands of the Kalapuya lived in this region or visited it to hunt, fish, gather foods and trade. Today Kalapuya are active members of the sovereign nations of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians. We believe that we have a responsibility to use our resources to address, not just acknowledge, the reality of Indigenous land loss. Our conservation efforts must include Indigenous voices and perspectives in order to be both successful and equitable.
We work alongside landowners in Benton, Linn, Marion, Polk, and Lane Counties to create innovative conservation options to protect wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreational resources. Greenbelt Land Trust acquires land through purchase, conservation easements, and occasionally through donations. Over 5,700 acres of critically important lands are currently under permanent protection by the Trust, and are being managed to build resilient water systems, enhance habitat for wildlife, and create productive natural ecosystems.
Learn more about conservation easements, stewardship, and events to connect people to nature.
Read Greenbelt’s Strategic Conservation Framework, laying out how the organization plans to accomplish its vision and mission, through the lens of Climate Resilience, Community Wellbeing, and Social Justice.
Since our founding in 1989, Greenbelt Land Trust has emerged as a regional and national leader in the land trust and conservation community. Through a strong network of partnerships, including land trusts, watershed councils, state and federal agencies, soil and water conservation districts, and many more, the Trust works to develop strategic and comprehensive plans for land protection and restoration.
By undergoing an exhaustive organizational evaluation, in 2008 Greenbelt Land Trust become one of the first out of 1200 land trusts to achieve national accreditation. This mark of distinction recognizes land trusts that maintain exemplary policies and practices. Learn more about Accreditation.
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Greenbelt Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs.
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Greenbelt Land Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Comments on Greenbelt Land Trust’s application will be most useful by December 20th, 2024.
