Developing an Indigenous Land Trust Model

Land trusts are not-for-profit organizations that are able to hold and protect private lands for long-term conservation purposes. They are one approach for Indigenous nations to protect their traditional territories, especially in areas dominated by private land. Different Indigenous nations are interested in establishing their own land trusts but various legal, financial and administrative issues make it challenging for them to be effective and support reconciliation. Outcomes from this research will help to alleviate barriers and propose better land trust models that can support Indigenous rights and long-term conservation while helping to build a conservation economy. Conservation is becoming an important economic driver in Indigenous communities, with benefits such as ecotourism, conservation finance and nature-based solutions, ecosystem services payments and sustainable resource use being incorporated into conservation plans. The Nature Conservancy of Canada will benefit directly from this exploratory work through learning how to better support Indigenous nations through amending its own land trust practices, concepts, and models, as well as from the partnerships that will be developed through this work.

Faculty Supervisor:

Robin Roth

Student:

Partner:

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Sustainability & the Environment; Indigenous Affairs; Natural Resources

University:

University of Guelph

Program: