Land trusts’ relationship to local public planning in metropolitan US counties

Abstract

In the US, environmental governance has devolved from a government-led process to one that empowers participation by environmental non-governmental organizations, such as land trusts (LTs). While public participation in US public land-use planning has been largely institutionalized, LTs and their use of conservation land acquisitions (both fee-simple and conservation easements (CEs)) do not have similar public input requirements. Some scholars have questioned whether CEs are in the public interest or represent more narrow interests. To explore how LTs interact with public planning processes and their role, we utilized semi-structured interviews with county government planners and LTs. Most LTs align their acquisitions with local comprehensive plan priorities. LTs are vital in fundraising and acquiring lands quickly, but most are apolitical. Devolving environmental governance to include LTs in the US may increase governmental influence in the land market compared to local governments’ capabilities alone.

Citation

Overby, Anna Treado; Dyckman, Caitlin S. 2025. Land trusts’ relationship to local public planning in metropolitan US counties. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 40(3): 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2025.2472334.