Farmland Preservation in Indiana

Wood-Land-Lakes Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.

Wood-Land Lakes is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1994 to address natural resource needs in counties across Indiana.    We are a group of volunteers committed to working together for responsible stewardship of our natural resources, establishing conservation easements for farms, farmlands, woodlands, forestlands, wetlands, wildlife habitats, and open spaces.

Our passion is working with owners of operating farms to create conservation easements which will preserve their farmland, while allowing the landowner to maintain a profitable farming operation in an ever-changing agriculture industry.  Our Land Trust Committee is a well-rounded, diverse group of volunteers including farmers who understand today's unique farming needs.  The Land Trust currently holds easements on 11,300 acres of farmland in 11 different counties in Indiana. 

Holding conservation easements for family farms is both an important and long-term responsibility.  The Land Trust works with families to ensure their desire for continued agricultural use of the land while preserving it for future generations of farmers.  To ensure our conservation easement policies are always current, we are members of Land Trust Alliance.  

Accepting and holding conservation easements has perpetual responsibilities for our organization.  One of those important responsibilities is maintaining the financial security of the Land Trust and our ability to defend conservation easements for generations.  To ensure Wood-Land- Lakes Land Trust is able to meet this commitment, the Land Trust maintains a legal defense fund and is one of the founding members of the conservation defense insurance group, TerraFirma. 

Both Land Trust Alliance and Terrafirma assist us in maintaining our ability to defend easements and provide professional assistance in meeting the latest legal requirements for conservation easements.

If you are interested in becoming a member of our team of volunteers, please contact us.