Who We Are
People of Conservation
Placer Land Trust believes that the quality of life in Placer County depends on preservation of our natural open spaces and agricultural lands.
Placer Land Trust leads the region in the permanent protection of Placer County’s natural wonders and rural quality of life. We envision a future in which land conservation grows along with population growth and development, creating and maintaining a healthy environment, economy and quality of life for future generations.
Placer Land Trust is the only accredited community land trust operating within the private market system to protect open space in Placer County and one of only a handful of accredited land trusts in California. Learn more about our accredited status.
Placer Land Trust is a member of two regional land trust councils working to increase the pace of conservation on a local level: the Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council, and the Central Valley Land Trust Council. We are also a member of the California Council of Land Trusts and the national Land Trust Alliance.
Placer Land Trust works only with willing landowners and donors; participation in our land conservation process is voluntary. We generally protect lands in one of two ways: through fee title acquisition, or through conservation or agricultural easements – each of which we purchase at fair market prices or acquire through donations from the landowner. To learn more about the ways Placer Land Trust works with landowners, public agencies, and community groups to preserve land check out our Land Conservation.
To date, Placer Land Trust has preserved over 7,000 acres of land in Placer County including: natural areas, wildlife habitat, family farms, working ranches, river and canyon lands, public parks, and trails and trailheads. For details about the lands we already steward, see our Stewardship page. Placer Land Trust monitors several agricultural and conservation easements to ensure that the land and its conservation values are protected in perpetuity. Placer Land Trust actively manages properties it owns to ensure public benefit for future generations. Where and when conditions and funding warrant, we work to enhance the public value of our properties by restoring wildlife habitat, controlling non-native invasive weeds, reducing fuel loads, improving public access, etc. We are always working on new land projects that will help preserve Placer County’s unique landscape; for more details see our Current Projects.
Community support is our GREATEST asset. Our membership and sponsors support all aspects of the organization though their charitable contributions, without which we could not operate. Membership benefits include receiving our newsletters, annual reports, exclusive invites to tours and hikes, volunteer opportunities, and up-to-date information on land we're trying to protect.
About Our People
Placer Land Trust is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, currently under the leadership of President Fred Yeager. Placer Land Trust is managed by staff, currently led by Executive Director Jeff Darlington. The “Placer Land Trust Family” includes our Board, staff, advisors, partners, volunteers and contributors. The links below lead to information about some of the people that make us successful.
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