What is a
Land Trust?
A land trust, like the North Georgia Land Trust, is a community-based, private nonprofit 501c-3 organization that acts to conserve land for its natural, recreational, scenic, or agricultural value. Land trusts protect land by working with financial donors and with willing landowners who donate land or place voluntary conservation easements on the property (while retaining ownership), which restricts development the owner doesn’t want. Both ensure the land remains protected forever and Forever is a Long Time
LOCAL.
The North Georgia Land Trust is a community-based nonprofit with the sole purpose to permanently conserve land and create greenspace throughout the region.
Established in 2023, the formation of the trust comes at a pivotal time as commercial and residential growth sweeps across our region. While economic development enriches lives, we believe the land trust provides a positive path toward creating a healthy balance for our community.
VOLUNTARY.
The North Georgia Land Trust partners directly with willing, private landowners who are passionate about their land and want to see it preserved — forever. For many, the land’s monetary value is less important than its family legacy, its raw beauty and emotional attachment. It’s where generations have hunted and fished, children have connected with nature, and families have come together.
FOREVER.
In many cases, an owner simply donates their property to the North Georgia Land Trust, which takes on the responsibility of management and preservation. In other cases, owners use a tool called a conservation agreement/easement (while retaining ownership) to have limited use for a home, hunting, fishing, farming, or hiking trails — often for substantial tax benefits.
In all cases, it is forever. And forever is a long time.
Why are we so passionate?
Brent Hoffman – Founder
Why are we so passionate about a land trust for North Georgia?
Look around you. On nearly every corner and highway, you’ll see rapid development – trees cut down, land graded and cleared, lakes and streams impacted.
Is all this necessarily bad? No, it’s economic development creating jobs and helping North Georgia families. . . .
But shouldn’t there be an equally important goal to help conserve greenspace for future generations of our families to enjoy? We believe both development and conservation can happen together.
At the North Georgia Land Trust, we are passionately recruiting and building an organization of local landowners, local donors, businesses, and other like-minded individuals who support our primary goals: To protect, hold, promote, educate, and organize more greenspace in North Georgia . . . forever.
How can you help?
If you are a landowner interested in keeping your property green forever – or limiting its development – give us a call. We can discuss several ways for you to voluntarily partner with us – and also potentially benefit from tax deductions.
Join our passion to preserve greenspace
If you just have an interest in seeing and enjoying more greenspace, you can become a member supporter of North Georgia Land Trust (ask your friends, too!). To get started, simply click here – or the Donate button at the top of this website –and please consider an ongoing yearly donation. All donations are tax deductible.
For more information, call us at 770-540-5373
Looking ahead, as we grow and raise funding from member supporters like you, we look to purchase additional key properties, support the work of the North Georgia Land Trust and our volunteers, and conserve more greenspace across our region . . . forever.
And forever is a long time.
Sincerely,
Brent Hoffman
Founder, Chairman
North Georgia Land Trust