Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts

Mission

We serve and strengthen the land trust community in Oregon. We do that by building connections and advancing policies that help protect our natural world—our water, wildlife and open space—for all people, forever.

Through the Oregon Land Justice Project (OLJP), we also seek to expand Indigenous access, ownership, and stewardship of land in Oregon.

Bottom Line for Portland

Oregon’s lands and waters define our way of life. But climate change, biodiversity loss, and deepening disconnection from nature demands swift, large-scale action. Land trusts, working closely with land owners, local communities, and Tribal nations, are leading the charge to protect and restore these landscapes.

Collectively our 33 member organizations protect a total of 318,921 acres of land across Oregon. Of that, 19,159 acres, spread across 121 locations, are open to the public. 

We're proud to highlight some of our members' recent efforts, like the Backyard Habitat Certification Program from the Bird Alliance of Oregon and Columbia Land Trust, through which 14,000 households have committed to fostering wildlife-friendly spaces in backyards across the Portland-metro area. The Black Oregon Land Trust is also making notable strides in securing affordable land access and food sovereignty for Black families in Portland.

A significant part of our collective work also focuses on returning land to Indigenous communities, the original stewards of these lands. Through OLJP, we bridge land trusts and Tribal communities across Oregon in order to build equitable partnerships and advance land return and Indigenous stewardship.

We need your help to catalyze this movement.

Quote

“There was this false premise that had existed in my career, that land and people are divided into two categories, when in fact, they are symbiotic." – Chuck Sams (Cayuse/Walla Walla/Cocopah/Yankton Sioux), Oregon conservation leader and National Park Service director

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We acknowledge the deeply rooted historical inequities within the conservation movement. Land trusts, like much of the broader environmental and climate action sectors, have historically excluded people of color, particularly Indigenous communities whose ancestral lands have been controlled without their expertise or leadership. We recognize that colonialism and inequitable power structures shaped land ownership and conservation practices, often at the expense of Indigenous peoples and communities of color.

We understand that all humans, as a keystone species, are inherently connected to the land, and that the work of conservation must be inclusive of all people and their diverse relationships with nature. 

We strive both internally and externally to uplift voices that have been marginalized, support Indigenous sovereignty and leadership, and create opportunities for people of all backgrounds to engage in land stewardship.

Partner(s)

We’re excited to collaborate on resource sharing and cross-promotion with some of our friends also featured in this year’s Give!Guide:

Bird Alliance of Oregon (COLT Associate Member) – COLT’s newest associate member, the Bird Alliance of Oregon is committed to inspiring people to love and protect birds, wildlife, and the natural environment that sustains all life.

Forest Park Conservancy (COLT Member) – Forest Park Conservancy is a community-supported organization whose mission is to protect and restore the ecological health of Forest Park and Marquam Nature Park, maintain and enhance their extensive trails networks, promote equitable access, and inspire diverse community appreciation and stewardship of these iconic urban forests for generations to come.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge (COLT Member) – Friends is the only conservation organization entirely dedicated to protecting, preserving, and stewarding the Gorge. They own over 1,500 acres of land across the Gorge and work with a diverse coalition of people who share a common love for the Gorge.

Friends of Tryon Creek (Close OLJP Partner) – Friends of Tryon Creek's mission, in partnership with Oregon State Parks, is to inspire every community to identify, cultivate or reclaim their relationship with nature in this cherished urban forest.

Bark – Bark envisions a transformed Mt. Hood National Forest, where natural processes are prioritized, wildlife thrives, and local communities are deeply connected to its restoration and preservation—socially, culturally, and economically.

1000 Friends of Oregon – This organization works to enhance the quality of life across Oregon by fostering livable urban and rural communities, protecting family farms and forests, and conserving natural areas.