Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust (NSCSLLT)

The Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust (NSCSLLT) is a dedicated land conservation funding vehicle established in 2008 using Crown Share Payments from the Province of Nova Scotia. Its mandate is to provide funds to eligible beneficiaries for the securement and protection of ecologically significant, threatened and irreplaceable natural areas located on private lands in Nova Scotia. Lands supported by the Trust are intended to meet International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category I, II or III protected area standards.

The Trust’s beneficiaries are non‑governmental land conservation organizations that have been formally recognized under the Designation of Eligible Bodies Regulation made under Section 16 of the Conservation Easement Act. These designated land trusts and conservation groups can receive NSCSLLT funding to purchase or encumber properties through conservation easements, ensuring permanent protection of important habitats, wildlands and coastal areas across the province.

NSCSLLT operates as a discretionary funder within the framework of its Trust Indenture. An “Apply for Funding” section outlines that only designated eligible bodies may apply. The Trust is updating its application form and guidelines, and in the interim invites potential applicants to contact the Trust Administrator by email for instructions on submitting proposals. A published policy on the financial administration of NSCSLLT funding provides principles and requirements for post‑award management of grants.

Trustees appointed by the Government of Nova Scotia are responsible for administering and disbursing Trust funds to beneficiaries, acting independently within the covenants of the Trust Indenture. They are advised by a Scientific Advisory Committee that evaluates the conservation value and priority of proposed land securement projects. The Trust publishes audited financial statements annually, demonstrating transparency in how funds are invested and disbursed. The Indenture has been renewed and extended, most recently to March 31, 2031, with additional capital contributions from the Province, ensuring continued grant support for land conservation in Nova Scotia.