Urban Land Trusts: A Comparative Case Study Analysis
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Date
2019
Authors
Clark-Long, Riley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
This report explores the motivations, partners, and programming of urban conservation land trusts across the United States. Although traditionally rural organizations, land trusts have increasingly used their model in urban areas, cities with 50,000+ residents. Land trusts have historically engaged in conservation easement and land acquisition programs in rural and suburban areas. However, over the last 25 years land trusts have steadily expanded their reach, scope, and missions to include urban programs, from affordable housing and community gardening, to public health and reforestation. Urban conservation land trusts tackle a wider variety of environmental, social, economic, and land use issues than their rural counterparts. Geographic and programmatic expansion seemingly evolved together, producing a new kind of organization; the urban conservation land trust. Conducting a review of the academic literature, 40+ land trusts, as well as a Case Study Analysis comparing four land trusts, this report treats motivations, partners, and programs as the building blocks for urban conservation land trusts. This research offers rural and suburban land trusts a framework to start their internal conversation about urban programming. Case Studies included a content analysis of land trust strategic plans to find patterns and trends in the language used in these organizationally guiding documents. In turn, the content analysis informed interviews of land trust staff, the second part of the Case Study Analysis. This research revealed the most important motivations for urban land trust work, including catalytic leadership, repurposing vacant, blighted, or undeveloped urban lots, and improving the “health” of urban communities and ecosystem. Because initial motivations heavily influence partnerships and programs, land trusts considering expansion into urban areas can use these three topics to frame their decision-making process. The most common programs pursued by urban land trusts in this study include parks and greenspace; education; trails and greenways; urban farming; forestry and green infrastructure; economic revitalization; land banking; food access; and affordable housing. The primary partners of urban land trusts in this study include municipal, county, and regional government agencies, other non-profit organizations, and local businesses. Ultimately, this project seeks to demonstrate an array of successful urban land trusts models around the country. This report does not endorse one model, set of motivations, or kind of programs over another, arguing that these all represent viable alternatives to traditionally rural land conservation. It also makes no claim that urban land conservation is in any way superior to traditional rural conservation.
Description
79 pages
Keywords
land trusts, urban, conservation, land trust motivations