Land trusts are community-based groups whose members work to permanently protect open space, including farms, fields, woodlands and riverways. This can be done in several ways, including buying land or purchasing the rights to prevent future development on a site. Sometimes people donate land or future land rights to a land trust out of a desire to protect land in their community. Most often, land trusts facilitate the transition of property ownership; they are not land banks.

     The East Quabbin Land Trust (EQLT) began in 1994 because of concern for the loss of farmland and wildlife habitat to unplanned sprawl in and around Hardwick. Since 1998, EQLT has expanded its protection efforts to Barre, Petersham, New Braintree and other nearby towns. By working cooperatively with property owners, government agencies, conservation groups and other land trust organizations, the Land Trust has been able to protect over 5,000 acres!