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Gaining Ground

Alabama

459,858

Acres Protected

That’s about 348,377 football fields!

Land trusts have already conserved 61 million acres of private land across the nation — more than all of the national parks combined. Help us conserve another 60 million acres by the end of the decade.

Together, let’s keep Gaining Ground.

Visitors to Land Trust Properties

201,230

Visitors in 2020, more than triple that of 2015.

Percent of Land Trusts That Provide Public Access to Their Lands

38%

Land trusts provide opportunities to recreate and recharge.

Number of People Served

4,950

Land trusts provide programs and activities to get people outside and learn about the land.

Miles of Trails

200

Walking, hiking and other outdoor recreation improve people's health and well-being.

Miles With Universal Access

18

Universal access trails are designed to be used by all people, regardless of ability.

Percent of Land Trusts Who Increased Community Engagement in the Last Five Years

60%

Land Trusts Are Deepening Relationships With:

  • People from various racial and ethnic backgrounds

  • Older adults or those living in retirement communities

  • People who identify as LGBTQ+

  • People living with disabilities

  • Veterans

Land Trusts Are Helping Address Community Needs, Including:

  • Youth education and development

  • Community and economic development

  • Food security and agriculture

  • Health and wellness

  • Social and environmental justice

Demographics

Every land trust is as unique as the community it serves.

Alabama land trusts are community-led and supported and protect lands and waters that help the entire state.

Active Land Trusts

8

A land trust is a nonprofit that conserves land by acquiring and stewarding land or conservation easements.

Learn more about land trusts
Alliance Member Land Trusts

6

Land Trust Alliance members commit to adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices as their guiding principles.

Learn about the land trust alliance
Accredited Land Trusts

5

Accredited land trusts undergo a thorough review of their practices in governance, finance, transactions and stewardship.

Learn about land trust accreditation

People

  • Members/financial supporters

    3,659

  • Volunteers

    429

  • Full-time staff

    37

  • Part-time staff

    8

  • Board members

    96

Land Trust Longevity

  • Oldest

    36 years old (1986)

  • Youngest

    16 years old (2006)

  • Median age

    32 years old

Percent of Land Trusts Who Increased Focus on Climate Change in the Last Five Years

20%

Percent of Land Trusts Receiving Funding to Address Climate Change

0%

Land Protected

There has been a 58% increase in Alabama land protected by land trusts since 2010.

Acre by acre, land trusts are helping to conserve Alabama lands, waters and ways of life.

2010
2015
2020
Total acres protected
290,409
388,454
459,858
+58%
Under easement
54,657
142,558
202,920
+271%
Owned
32,829
43,191
39,703
+21%
Acquired and reconveyed
93,273
107,815
108,031
+16%
Protected by other means
109,650
106,582
109,204
0%

Disclaimer: Land trusts conserve land in many different ways and every project is unique. Category totals may change depending on how acres are reported by survey respondents to reflect the most current data and minimize double-counting. In some instances, the total may be greater than the sum of the separate categories due to organizations that provided total acres not broken down by category.

Percent of Land Owned and Under Easement Held by an Accredited Land Trust

92%

Source: 2020 National Land Trust Census

Total Public Funding for Conservation From 1998-2017

$284 million

Source: Trust for Public Land's Conservation Almanac

Acres of Land Lost to Development From 2012-2017

42,400

Source: NRCS - Natural Resources Inventory

This information reflects data collected in the National Land Trust Census, the longest-running comprehensive survey of private land conservation in America. Learn more about the Census and see which land trusts participated in the 2020 National Land Trust Census.

Making a Difference

Alabama land trusts are gaining ground.

Land trusts across the state are helping find solutions to some of Alabama's most pressing issues.

  • Providing access for all: The accredited Freshwater Land Trust joined 19 organizations to form the group Champions for Health, organizations and agencies working together to improve the health of Jefferson County. The group create a 750-mile master plan for a network of greenways, bike and pedestrian paths and trails to improve the environmental, economic and social well-being of the community while promoting healthy lifestyles.

    Read more

  • Addressing community needs: The accredited Land Trust of North Alabama partnered with Downtown Huntsville, Inc. and Downtown Charitable Fund to provide temporary employment to service industry workers from downtown Huntsville businesses who had been displaced due to the economic fallout of COVID-19.

    Read more

Land Trusts Working in Alabama

Land Trust Alliance member land trusts, listed below, commit to adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices as their guiding principles.