Lands We Steward

Conserved Lands

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust has conserved 42 properties spanning over 3,600 acres of land with high conservation values of habitat, recreation, open space, culture, or history. These conservation lands are in the communities or rural surroundings of Juneau, Haines, Kake, Petersburg, and Sitka.

Visit our StoryMap to explore SEALT properties online before you visit them in person!

Stewardship Principles

Each time the Southeast Alaska Land Trust accepts a conservation easement or ownership of a property, we accept the commitment to be the steward of that land in perpetuity. Our focus shifts from establishing the land’s protection to maintaining or enhancing its conservation values. Our most important work as a land trust is to steward and defend conservation lands in perpetuity under the accredited standards and practices of the Land Trust Alliance.

The goal of the Southeast Alaska Land Trust stewardship program is to work cooperatively with landowners to maintain or enhance the natural values of their land and to ensure that the terms of a conservation easement are followed. Before a conservation property is accepted, the Southeast Alaska Land Trust evaluates and records the conservation values of the property in a baseline document. Permissible and prohibited land uses, and stewardship responsibilities and obligations are spelled out in the conservation easement according to our stewardship guidelines. We use these foundational records and agreements to steward the property through routine monitoring, preventative measures, and compliance enforcement.

Proper stewardship requires that we monitor each property at least once a year to ensure compliance with conservation easement terms. Landowners receive monitoring reports and are informed of on-going maintenance responsibilities. For each property, a separate stewardship donation is required to ensure adequate funding of these perpetual stewardship activities.

Special places require attention and care. At the Southeast Alaska Land Trust, through solid partnerships and sound stewardship practices, we ensure that these vital natural areas are protected forever.