Land Trust AllianceLand Trust Alliance

Getting Ready for the 2021 National Land Trust Census

The Land Trust Alliance will launch the next National Land Trust Census in January 2021.

Conducted once every five years, the Census is the only comprehensive survey of private land conservation in America. Census data directly informs how land conservation is understood by the public, including policymakers, journalists, researchers, state associations and other partners at the state, local and national levels. 

We understand that responding to surveys takes time, even if they only happen every five years. To help your land trust get ready for the next Census, here’s the key information you may want to have handy when the survey opens in January.

  • Number of full- and part-time staff, board members, volunteers and financial supporters
  • Amounts held in designated funds, such as monitoring/stewardship; legal defense and enforcement; land acquisition; or operating reserve
  • Acres of land protected per state:
    • Owned
    • Under easement
    • Acquired and re-conveyed to government or public agencies
    • Acquired and re-conveyed to other entities
    • Protected by other means
  • New Acres protected that are:
    • Forests
    • Agricultural land, including farms and ranches
    • Wildlife habitat
  • Public access on properties owned or under easement – acres and number of properties
  • Estimated number of annual visitors to your land trust’s properties or preserves
  • New Miles of trails available for public use
  • New Miles of trails designed for universal access
  • New Estimated number of people served through your land trust’s programs and activities
  • New Whether your land trust has directly engaged people not traditionally involved with land conservation
  • New How climate change has informed or funded your land trust’s work

Thank you for helping us share the story of local land conservation nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Land Trust Census?

Conducted once every five years, the Census is the only comprehensive survey of private land conservation in America. Census data directly informs how land conservation is understood by the public, including policymakers, journalists, researchers, state associations and other partners at the state, local and national levels.

How do you define a land trust?

A land trust is a nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by:

  • Acquiring land or conservation easements (or assisting with their acquisition), or
  • Stewarding/managing land or conservation easements

When is the Census?

Data collection will begin in January with an invitation to complete the online questionnaire. Look for an email from the Alliance around January 4 inviting you to participate. We expect to announce the results in the fall of 2021.

How long is the survey?

This year’s survey has about 30 questions and should take no more than 30 minutes to complete, depending on the size and sophistication of your organization and how much information you have at hand. This year’s survey is about 30% shorter compared to 2015, with new sections on community engagement and climate change. Find the questions here.

Where possible, we’ve pre-fill the web form with data from other sources such as your Alliance membership record, state association surveys and Terrafirma.

Why should my land trust fill out this survey?

The Census is only as powerful as the data it contains. Using the results of Census as a tool, we can show the collective impact land trusts have on people in their local communities every day and in every region of the country. The release of Census results is a unique opportunity to raise the profile of land conservation in national and regional news.

When will the results be released?

We expect to announce the results in the fall of 2021.

What will the Land Trust Alliance do to publicize the results?

The Census is one of the highest-profile news stories the land trust community produces and Alliance staff usually fields media inquiries from dozens of national and regional news outlets.

To extend this reach even further, we’ll provide a press kit for land trusts to use in their local markets, including template press releases, op-eds and other materials to help you to leverage the Census.

We will also share results through infographics and provide state-level data through an interactive online portal.

Do we have to be a member of the Land Trust Alliance?

We encourage all land trusts to fill out the survey. We welcome input from all US-based land trusts, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

How can my land trust participate?

If your organization is in our database, you will receive an email invitation with a link to the web survey around January 4, 2021. If you would like to check whether we have your current contact information, please email us at census@lta.org.

What if we don’t get an email invitation to access the survey?

If you haven’t received your online survey invitation by January 11, please email us at census@lta.org.

What if I want to fill out a paper form?

We will not be offering a paper option this year.

What if I make a mistake in my responses?

Please email us as soon as possible at census@lta.org. We can look up your answers and help you make any necessary changes.

What if I need help understanding the questions?

Alliance staff is ready to help starting in January. Contact your Alliance Field Services staff, email us at census@lta.org or call (202) 638-4725.

How will my data be used?

With the exceptions noted below, none of your responses will be released in a way that could identify your land trust. The information you provide will only be reported in aggregate form.

If your land trust is a member of the Land Trust Alliance, the following information will be displayed on your organization’s Find a Land Trust profile:

  • Mission statement
  • Number of full-time staff
  • Number of members or financial supporters
  • Counties of operation
  • Acres protected per state

Many land trust state associations ask land trusts in their state similar questions as those in the National Land Trust Census. To avoid duplication of effort, we will share responses from land trusts in a particular state with that state’s association or network.

The Land Trust Alliance privacy policy prohibits us from sharing your contact information with other organizations, including other land trusts, for mailings or email lists.

Who can I contact with other questions?

Katie Chang, Educational Services Manager

Email census@lta.org or call (202) 800-2241