Together, for Oregon’s land.
What we do
We’re big believers in the power of unity. We serve as the central voice of the land trust community—representing more than 20 conservation organizations in Oregon.
Individually, our coalition members protect the natural world in strategies grounded in science and anchored in local priorities and community culture.
Collectively, through COLT, we advocate for this work through innovative policy and partnerships so everyone benefits from a thriving Oregon—complete with protected wild places, robust fish and wildlife populations, working lands, clean air and water, healthy food and local parks.
How can you help?
OUR PROJECTS
In This Section
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OUR PROJECTS
PRO BONO SERVICES:
Providing no-cost legal services to our member organizations—through generous volunteer attorneys. Take a look at our pro-bono page for additional details. Contact Nancy for more.
COMMUNITY DRINKING WATER:
Reliable, clean drinking water is tied to healthy lands. The lands that lead up to and surround our waterways help make our water cleaner and cooler—for rivers, streams and community drinking water. And, when these lands are protected, they can help ensure our water sources are around for generations to come. COLT's Water Project works to:
- Accelerate the pace and scale of protecting Oregon’s community drinking water sources statewide
- Foster partnerships with conservation organizations, communities, managers of working lands, water utilities and more
- Add capacity and provide needed, and often missing, opportunities to support communities that want to protect their drinking watersheds—taking actions like partnering in land acquisition or supporting fundraising strategy.
- Build training and resources for how conservation organizations can better incorporate drinking water protection work into their plans and portfolios
- Champion the connection healthy lands have to healthy waters—and healthy communities
Contact Michelle for more.
BUILDING CONNECTIONS:
Nature supports us all—the water we drink, the peace we seek and the food we eat. And land trusts are a part of that. Largely, though, land trusts are not well known and not as deeply connected to our communities as they could be. We're working to change that.
One step, is our effort to build the first-ever map of places folks can visit in Oregon, thanks to the support of land trusts! There's never been a one-stop place to find the information and we hope to share it far and wide—celebrating being outside and the organizations the help protect the places we love. Check out "The Oregon I Am" new map—available in English and Spanish!
Together, our coalition has taken up the charge to better serve our whole communities, and not just those currently engaged to our work. This work is our collective commitment to advance building connections as an overarching priority. Ultimately, we hope to:
- Better serve the diversity of our communities
- Learn from and include more voices and more people
- Foster new connections around shared appreciation for land
- Expand the “campfire circle” of those who are passionate about protecting, enjoying and celebrating Oregon’s natural world
- Upend a growing human disconnect to our natural world
Photo Credit: David Jensen
With your support and generous funding from the Yarg Foundation, we launched a year of listening and listened to Oregonian voices and values and beliefs.