How Kawartha Land Trust protects land in perpetuity
An article published in Tuesday’s Peterborough Examiner raised questions about how Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) protects land in perpetuity. These are good questions and we have good answers.
Land trusts actually employ the strongest permanent conservation model available in Ontario.
Like many other land trusts, KLT has a strong governance structure including a board of directors and a membership of trustees - many of whom are leaders in our community.
KLT is a registered charity whose mission is achieved by owning land or holding a conservation easement agreement that permanently protects features while leaving the land private.
Like many land trusts, KLT requires increasing their land stewardship fund with each new property to ensure affordable perpetual care. Over 110 active volunteers (in 2018) support this work.
In the event of the dissolution of any charity, Canadian law requires that its assets pass to another charity with similar aims and objects.
Some, but not all donations of land qualify as an Ecological Gift a program overseen by Environment Canada.
In all instances, KLT operates in accordance with the Canada Revenue Agency and Ontario’s Conservation Lands Act.
This year, donors have enabled KLT to protect three more environmentally significant properties and there are four more on the verge of being protected before end-of-year.
Visit kawarthalandtrust.org for further detail on land protection options, governance structures, projects and opportunities to get involved. John Desbiens P.Eng., chair, Kawartha Land Trust board of directors, president and CEO of Cambium Inc.