Conservation Excellence Certification Program Announces First Certified Land Trusts
The Centre for Land Conservation (CLC) today announced the first Canadian land trusts to achieve Conservation Excellence Certification, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Canada’s land conservation sector.
The six certified organizations represent conservation leadership from coast to coast
- Couchiching Conservancy, Ontario
- Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, Ontario
- Kawartha Land Trust, Ontario
- Nature Trust of New Brunswick, New Brunswick
- Ontario Farmland Trust, Ontario
- Southern Interior Land Trust Society, British Columbia
“This certification represents a watershed moment for land conservation in Canada.” said Lara Ellis, Executive Director of the Centre for Land Conservation. “These six organizations have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation excellence. Their certification signals to donors, partners, and communities that they operate at the highest levels of professional practice and conservation impact.”
Protected natural areas are essential to the quality of life of Canadians, providing wildlife habitat and places for recreation, connecting people with nature in their communities, conserving vital biodiversity, and serving as natural carbon sinks that help mitigate climate change impacts.
The Conservation Excellence Certification Program, supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), philanthropic foundations, and individual donors, promotes conservation excellence through third-party evaluation of conservation impact, governance, and organizational sustainability against nationally adopted standards and practices. Certified organizations are authorized to use the Conservation Excellence Certification Trustmark and will be listed in a public registry on the CLC website.
Additional land trusts are currently undergoing assessment, and the program aims to enroll up to 40 land trusts across Canada by March 2026. This program has been made possible due to financial contributions from Environment Climate Change Canada, the McLean Foundation, Power Corporation of Canada, the Echo Foundation and the Michael Young Family Foundation.
Contact: Lara Ellis, Centre for Land Conservation, lara.ellis@centreforlandconservation.org 416-303-7492