A land trust is a nonprofit organization that actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements. Lands conserved include farmlands, forests, open spaces, wetlands, and unique historic, cultural, or natural resources. In North Carolina there are 24 Land trusts that protect more than 400,000 acres in over 2,500 places.

Land Trusts operate under the standards and practices of a national umbrella group, the Land Trust Alliance. This organization has initiated an accreditation program for land trusts in the United States. Accreditation will help ensure that all land trusts do the best job possible as they protect and steward conserved lands.