People are drawn to Placer County for our stunning landscapes, rich agricultural heritage, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Placer Land Trust believes these natural wonders provide a rich quality of life for all living things today and in the future. Protecting these landscapes is essential to successfully build and sustain connections among people, their community, and the natural environment.
There are so many reasons to protect our land! Here are some of our favorites:
Land Acknowledgment
The protected lands in Placer Land Trust’s care are the ancestral lands of the Maidu, Miwok, Nisenan and Washoe tribes. These lands were forcibly seized, and these tribes were unjustly treated. Although Placer Land Trust cannot change the past, we seek to work with local Native American tribes, where we can, to help address this injustice.
Placer Land Trust works with willing landowners and conservation partners to permanently protect and care for natural and agricultural lands in Placer County for current and future generations.
Land Conservation: Land is very expensive. Donor funds help us cover the transaction costs of acquiring land from willing landowners. We are often able to leverage these donor funds to attract large state and federal grants to complete the purchase of land or conservation easements. On average, every $1 of member support protects $8 worth of land!
Trails & Recreation: Funding helps us build and maintain miles of new and existing trails through 3,000 acres of permanently protected oak woodlands in the Sierra Foothills. Some trails are open to the public, and others are accessible through free monthly guided hikes that focus on general recreation as well as hikes with a special educational theme.
Habitat Stewardship & Enhancement: Funding helps us actively manage properties we own to ensure public benefit is protected now and forever, including routine but costly functions such as habitat protection, weed management, and making safety improvements to prevent fire hazards.
Community Engagement: Funding supports organizational volunteers that help us do more than we could do alone. Volunteers help us offer varied experiences from wilderness hikes to volunteer restoration projects that create opportunities for people to connect with our natural wonders and inspire them to care for the land that sustains us -- now and forever.
Board Members: Sound and sustainable governance, with an emphasis on fiscal success and accountability, is at the heart of our work. Our Board of Directors are subject to high standards and expectations, both as ambassadors of -- and fundraisers for -- our mission.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access to Land (IDEAL).
Placer Land Trust seeks to protect land for the sake of the environment, the benefit of people, and the connections between them. Just as diversity strengthens a natural ecosystem, we know it makes our communities stronger and more resilient. Our long-term success depends on inclusive community support now and in the future, and on staying relevant to current and future generations.
We believe our region’s quality of life depends in part on equitable access to a healthy outdoors, yet our present-day enjoyment of the land stems from a privilege that is not afforded to all. Our vision is that all people — especially those who have been excluded or underrepresented — have a voice, a role, and feel a sense of belonging on our shared lands. We hope all who enjoy these natural lands and open spaces are inspired to play an active role in furthering our mission. We will continue to work intentionally towards this goal until our leadership, membership, and footprint ultimately reflect the diversity of identity, background, and experiences of our beautiful region — and then we will strive to sustain that diversity forever.
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Volunteering
Volunteer with Placer Land Trust
Various locations in Placer County
Ongoing opportunity
Organization name
Placer Land Trust
other names
PLT
1991
Tax id (EIN)
68-0223143
Mission Category
Environment
Operating Budget
$1,000,001-$5 million
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Volunteers, Board Members
Local Counties Served
Placer
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
922 Lincoln Way Suite 200Placer, CA, US