Preserving Door County’s Finest Open Spaces and Wild Places
 The Door County Land Trust is a completely
local,
non-governmental, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to permanently protect
lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and
ecological integrity of Door County.
In order to accomplish this
mission, we use a variety of methods. We accept donations of land or
conservation easements, we strategically purchase critical habitat, and we
manage
the lands we own to improve or maintain high-quality, healthy habitat. Door
County Land Trust nature preserves are open to the public for nature-based recreational
activities.
Since 1986,
the Door County Land Trust has protected over 5,000 acres
from Washington Island through southern Door County and many points in between.
What type of lands do we protect?
- Natural areas including forests and wetlands that are home to wildlife
and rare plants and animals.
- Undeveloped shoreline on the peninsula and islands.
- Scenic open space along highways and rural roads including old fields,
meadows, farms and orchards.
How do we protect land?
- We enter into conservation easement agreements with private landowners.
The landowners retain ownership of the land while the type and amount of
future development is permanently restricted.
- We accept donations of land that possess high quality habitat or
significant open space value.
- We identify and selectively purchase from willing landowners those
properties in Door County that possess exceptional scenic beauty and
ecological significance.
- We manage the lands we own as nature preserves to maintain or enhance
the natural systems and wildlife habitat.
- We seek private monetary donations, secure state and federal grants, and forge cooperative
partnerships with other conservation organizations and local units of
government to accomplish our land protection mission.
How does our work benefit the community?
- By preserving Door County's open spaces and natural areas, the Door
County Land Trust is
sustaining the quality of life enjoyed by residents and protecting the scenic beauty
which attracts visitors to Door County.
- Lands protected by the Door County Land Trust provide quality
habitat for Door County’s rare and unique wildlife and help to purify our
surface and drinking water resources.
- Lands owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public
for recreation, education and scientific research.
- By providing land protection resources and options for Door County
landowners, we help to ensure the lands we all love remain in a scenic and
natural state for generations to come.
- Many of the lands protected by the Door County Land Trust stay in
private ownership and remain on the property tax roll.
How are we funded?
- The majority of our operating budget comes from individuals and families
who make an annual membership contribution. Find out how you can
Become a Member.
- The Door County Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible to the
fullest extent of the law. Every penny stays in Door County, preserving the lands
we love.
- The Door County Land Trust applies for and receives grants from
state and federal organizations including the Knowles Nelson State
Stewardship Fund and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is a land trust?
A land trust is a nonprofit, community-based organization that actively works
to conserve land by undertaking or assisting with direct land
transactions—primarily the purchase or acceptance of donations of land or
conservation easements.
The Door County Land Trust is one of the more than 1,700 local and
regional land trusts across the nation and a growing number of land trusts
operating outside the U.S.
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