Your land. Your choices. A lasting legacy.
Every property carries a different story. You may be thinking about succession, the future of a family farm or ranch, wildlife habitat, water, or simply how to keep a place you care about intact.
Western Sky Land Trust works with willing landowners to explore practical, voluntary options shaped around their land, their family and their goals. You decide whether any option moves forward, and an initial conversation does not commit you to anything.
Western Sky Land Trust works with willing landowners to explore practical, voluntary options shaped around their land, their family and their goals. You decide whether any option moves forward, and an initial conversation does not commit you to anything.
What does a land trust do?
A land trust is a nonprofit organization that works with landowners to care for natural and working landscapes. Western Sky listens to what matters to you, learns about the land and helps explore options that may fit your goals.
Working with a land trust does not automatically mean giving up ownership, ending farming or ranching, or opening your land to the public. If you choose to move forward, Western Sky helps coordinate the necessary research and professional work, then stays connected to care for the land or uphold the agreement over time.
Working with a land trust does not automatically mean giving up ownership, ending farming or ranching, or opening your land to the public. If you choose to move forward, Western Sky helps coordinate the necessary research and professional work, then stays connected to care for the land or uphold the agreement over time.
What options might fit your land?
Conservation easement
Keep ownership and define what carries forward A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement created by a landowner and a qualified organization such as a land trust. You keep ownership and may continue agreed uses, including living on the property, farming or ranching. The agreement is registered on title. A permanent easement generally continues when ownership changes and may limit activities such as subdivision or development. Alberta now also supports eligible term easements for a set period. The right fit depends on the land, the landowner’s goals and program requirements. |
Land donation
Create a lasting home for the property Some landowners choose to donate all or part of a property to a land trust. This can create a lasting legacy when continued private ownership is no longer the preferred option. In some circumstances, an arrangement may allow the donor to retain the right to live on or use the land. Legal, tax and estate advice is essential before moving forward. |
Other possibilities
Explore a path shaped to your goals Depending on the property, available funding and the landowner’s goals, other possibilities may include a partial donation, purchase or combination of approaches. Not every option fits every property, which is why the process begins with a conversation. |
What could this make possible?
Depending on the option and the property, working with a land trust may help you:
- Keep a farm, ranch or natural landscape whole
- Continue farming, ranching or living on the land where the agreement allows
- Carry your wishes forward when ownership changes
- Support family succession and estate planning
- Keep wetlands, native grasslands, waterways and wildlife habitat connected
- Potentially receive charitable tax benefits when qualifying land or an eligible interest in land is donated
Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program may provide enhanced tax treatment for qualifying donations of ecologically sensitive land or an eligible interest in land. The property, recipient and fair market value must meet federal requirements. Tax results depend on each donor’s circumstances, so independent legal, tax and financial advice is essential.
How the process works
Curious about what could work for your land?
You do not need to have decided what you want, and you do not need to know whether an option will fit your property. If you are thinking about the future of your land or simply want to understand what may be possible, we would be glad to listen.
An initial conversation is confidential, informal and does not commit you to taking further action.
An initial conversation is confidential, informal and does not commit you to taking further action.