Help & Resources

The Land Trust Alliance works to save the places people need and love by strengthening conservation across America. Member dues support the totality of benefits and services the Alliance provides. The Commission strongly encourages land trusts to be members of the Alliance to be able to take full advantage of these benefits, services, and resources outlined below. Land trusts do not need to be members of the Alliance to be accredited, but land trusts are encouraged to learn more about the benefits of Alliance membership by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or by visiting the Alliance membership.

The Conservation Resource Center gives Alliance members access to critical background information on the accreditation indicator elements as well as sample policies and procedures. At the Learning Center, you can:

• Review the accreditation indicator elements and narratives. You can find these accreditation narratives organized by subject area. Go to the Browse the Digital Library and click on Browse by Topic, Accreditation
• Design your own learning path with on-demand training on topics such as Governance, Strong Organizations, Land Protection, and Stewardship
• “Ask The Experts” in moderated forums

Participating in the Alliance's conferences, webinars and courses and reading publications will help ensure the land trust is familiar and up-to-date with essential land trust best practices and legal requirements as part of achieving and maintaining the excellence that is represented by the accreditation seal.

The Alliance has a full suite of educational materials and webinars related to Land Trust Standards and Practices with special focus on the accreditation indicator elements.

The Alliance's magazine, entitled Saving Land, is the nation's leading land conservation magazine. Available as a member benefit, the quarterly magazine offers in-depth stories on the latest land conservation issues, innovations and trends. The magazine also features columns on accreditation, fundraising, board tips, profiles of conservation leaders, resources and timely news, to help you save land even better. From the technical to the inspirational, Saving Land magazine presents not just the "how" of what we do, but also the "why."

• Find an Expert is the Alliance's online directory to search for professionals, government agencies and nonprofits who have shown their commitment to excellence in conservation by becoming a Land Trust Alliance Affiliate.
• The RFP Depot is an online repository where the land trust community can post requests for proposals and be confident that the most knowledgeable land conservation professionals are reviewing them.

The Alliance offers an extensive selection of publications for land trust practitioners. A sample of the selection offered is below:

• The Conservation Easement Handbook
• An Introduction to Mergers for Land Trusts
• Amending Conservation Easements: Evolving Practices and Legal Principles
• Land Trust Standards and Practices

State service associations- also known as service centers, councils, coalitions, alliances, and compacts - work closely with the Alliance and land trusts to deliver services and technical assistance that strengthen local and regional organizations that conserve open space. If you are interested in learning if your state or region has a service center, please contact your Land Trust Alliance Field Services staff member.