World Land Trust

Charity Number: 1001291

Annual Expenditure: £10.0M
Geographic Focus: Gloucestershire, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica ... [20 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £10 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Highly competitive - funds very few unsolicited applications
  • Decision Time: Twice yearly decisions (March and September for full applications)
  • Grant Range: Variable - projects range from tens of thousands to millions (e.g., £600,000 to £2.2 million campaigns)
  • Geographic Focus: Global South (Asia, West Africa, North Africa priority; also Central & South America, East & Southern Africa)
  • Current Status: NOT currently accepting applications from new organizations

Contact Details

Website: www.worldlandtrust.org

Email: info@worldlandtrust.org

Phone: 01986 874422

Project Proposals: Check website for updates on when applications may reopen

Overview

World Land Trust (WLT) was founded in 1989 by John Burton with a simple but revolutionary concept: enable people to directly fund land purchase for conservation. Since then, WLT has protected over 1.1 million hectares directly and co-funded protection of a further 1.3 million hectares across more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. With an annual income of £10 million (2023), WLT works through a network of 52 conservation partners to fund land acquisition, protected area creation, and ecosystem restoration. Dr. Catherine Barnard has led the organization as CEO since September 2019, overseeing the strongest fundraising years in WLT's history. The charity's patrons include Sir David Attenborough (since 2003), Steve Backshall, Chris Packham, and David Gower. In 2023, WLT funded 58 projects across 25 countries and protected 162,317 hectares of land.

Funding Priorities

Current Application Status

IMPORTANT: WLT is currently prioritizing support to its existing network of conservation partners and is not receiving applications from new organizations. Potential applicants should check the website for future updates.

Grant Programs

When accepting applications, WLT reviews proposals through a two-stage process:

  • Concept Notes: Can be submitted at any time and reviewed on a rolling basis
  • Full Applications: Reviewed twice yearly with decisions made in March and September

Priority Areas

Geographic Priorities (when accepting new partners):

  • Currently prioritizing: Asia, West Africa, and North Africa
  • Existing geographies (Central and South America, East and Southern Africa): Only exceptional conservation value projects considered
  • Not supported: North America, Western Europe, and other high-income countries

Project Activities Funded:

  • Land acquisition through various mechanisms (purchases, conservation easements, community reserves)
  • Legal declaration of protected areas
  • Reserve protection (including ranger patrols)
  • Ecosystem and habitat restoration
  • Biodiversity monitoring
  • Community activities supporting conservation
  • Education and outreach
  • Species reintroduction

Project Scale Examples:

  • Buy an Acre program: Small-scale land purchases (historically £25 per acre campaigns)
  • Major appeals: £600,000 (33 km² in Belize), £1 million (Orangutan corridor, Borneo), £2.2 million (1,495 hectares in Colombia)
  • 2024: 150-hectare purchase in South Africa, 200-hectare expansion in Madagascar

What They Don't Fund

  • Small-scale tree planting projects (wood lots and orchards) unless clear biodiversity benefits demonstrated
  • Projects in high-income countries (North America, Western Europe)
  • Organizations not legally registered or without demonstrated conservation experience
  • Projects without clear benefits and no net negative impact to biodiversity, communities, and climate
  • Standalone secondary activities not part of broader conservation projects
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Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Catherine Barnard (since September 2019)

  • Previously led WLT through its strongest fundraising years
  • Focused on scaling conservation impact and raising organizational profile

Chair of Trustees: Myles (appointed December 2022)

  • Previously served as Honorary Treasurer (2012-2022)
  • Background: Publisher at Collins Natural History, zoology graduate from University of Bristol

Honorary President: Sir David Attenborough

  • Supported WLT since its founding in 1989, became official Patron in 2003

Founder: John Burton (1944-2022)

  • Founded WLT in 1989
  • Served as CEO for 30 years until 2019
  • Previously Chief Executive of Fauna and Flora International

Leadership Quotes

Catherine Barnard on WLT's mission: "I want to continue to raise the profile of the Trust, being an organisation that's a catalyst, a bridge between people who want to do something but don't know how to do it... we can have collective impact."

On urgency: “The climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis have never been more urgent, so we need to do more to raise awareness of these and the solutions.”

On immediate action: WLT supporters "aren't waiting for an as yet undeveloped technological solution to the climate crisis. They're not setting 20-year targets that may never be followed through – they're supporting appeals that bring official protection to land as soon as is feasible."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Applications from new organizations are NOT currently being accepted. WLT is focusing on existing partners.

When Applications Are Open:

  • Rolling review process
  • Assessment against eligibility criteria
  • Reviewed twice annually
  • Decisions made in March and September

Decision Timeline

  • Concept notes: Reviewed as soon as possible after submission
  • Full applications: Twice-yearly review cycle with decisions in March and September
  • Overall timeline: Not specified, but expect several months from concept note to final decision

Success Rates

WLT emphasizes that it “funds very few unsolicited applications,” indicating:

  • Highly competitive process
  • Most successful projects come through established relationships or targeted outreach
  • Strong strategic alignment and exceptional conservation value required

In 2023: 58 projects funded across 25 countries from an existing partner network of 52 organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in available materials. Given the emphasis on existing partnerships and restricted applications, unsuccessful applicants should await announcements about when applications may reopen.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must be:

  • Legally registered NGOs or non-profit/charitable organizations
  • Based in developing countries (Global South)
  • Experienced in conservation
  • Aligned with WLT's objectives around biodiversity and ecosystem conservation

What WLT Values

Geographic and Strategic Alignment:

  • Projects in priority regions (Asia, West Africa, North Africa)
  • Exceptional conservation value in existing geographies
  • Focus on high biodiversity areas with limited resources for protection

Project Quality:

  • Clear biodiversity benefits
  • No net negative impact to biodiversity, communities, and climate
  • Long-term sustainability
  • Part of broader conservation strategy

Conservation Approach:

  • Permanent land protection through various legal mechanisms
  • Integration of protection activities (ranger patrols, monitoring)
  • Community engagement where appropriate
  • Measurable conservation outcomes

Recent Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

  1. Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust, South Africa: 497-hectare property protecting one of the world's rarest habitats (150 hectares funded through Buy an Acre)
  2. Missouri Botanical Garden's Madagascar Program: 200-hectare expansion of Ankarabolava-Agnakatrika forest protecting 50+ threatened species
  3. Wildlife Corridors in Ecuador and Kenya: Created three critical corridors connecting fragmented habitats, including link to Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve

WLT's Working Model

WLT acts as a bridge between donors and conservation partners, providing:

  • Initial land acquisition funding
  • Ongoing support for protection and restoration
  • Connection to global donor base
  • Technical and strategic guidance

The organization supports 80 rangers across 16 countries through their Keepers of the Wild Program, demonstrating commitment to long-term partnership.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Applications currently closed: WLT is not accepting applications from new organizations. Monitor website for updates on when this may change.
  • Relationship-driven funding: WLT funds “very few unsolicited applications” - success typically requires strategic alignment and potentially existing connections to WLT's network.
  • Geographic focus is critical: Priority for Asia, West Africa, and North Africa. Projects elsewhere need exceptional conservation value to compete.
  • Permanent protection is key: WLT pioneered land purchase for conservation. Projects must deliver permanent, legally protected conservation outcomes.
  • Think long-term partnership: WLT supports 52 active partners with ongoing relationships, not one-off grants. Demonstrate capacity for sustained collaboration.
  • Scale and impact matter: While “Buy an Acre” exists for smaller parcels, major campaigns raise hundreds of thousands to millions. Show transformational conservation potential.
  • Proven track record essential: Organizations must be legally registered, experienced conservation NGOs. New or unproven organizations unlikely to succeed even when applications reopen.

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References