National Organizations | Great Lakes Region

Greenfields include agricultural lands, metropolitan parks, greenways, ecological corridors in metro areas and other places that help delineate one village, city or town from another or where development is occuring and where it is not. When they are protected, greenfields can serve to promote growth in already developed areas and curb urban sprawl. As parks and greenways, they also provide the green infrastructure essential to livable communities.

The Conservation Fund

The Nature Conservancy

Land Trust Alliance

Farmland Information Center (FIC)
The FIC is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship developed through a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and American Farmland Trust. Provides links to statistics such as the USDA National Resources Inventory, a survey of natural resource conditions and trends on nonfederal land in the United States. Also includes searchable database of local, state and federal laws, administrative regulations, state executive orders and state attorney general opinions related to farmland protection.

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Trust for Public Land

National Agricultural Statistics Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Includes link to the Census of Agriculture and a database searchable by state or county.

Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program
National Park Service
Provides a network of conservation professionals who assist communities with greenway projects.

American Trails

Rails-To-Trails Conservancy

Illinois

Farmland Protection
Illinois Department of Agriculture

Openlands Project
A nonprofit regional conservation organization that protects, expands and enhances open space throughout northeastern Illinois.

Greenways and Trails Program
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Includes information about the Illinois Greenways and Trails Council, the Recreational Trails Program, the Greenways & Trails Planning Assistance Program, a quarterly newsletter and more.

Indiana

Hoosier Rails-to-Trails Council and Indiana Trails Fund

Michigan

Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program
Michigan Department of Agriculture

The Greenway Collaborative, Inc.

Michigan Field Office
Rails-To-Trails Conservancy
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Michigan Field Office has led the way in converting the state's abandoned railroad corridors to trails and has made Michigan a recognized national leader in rail-trail conversions.

GreenWays Initiative
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Minnesota

Conservation Programs
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Information about land preservation and conservation programs at the state and federal levels.

Midtown Greenway Coalition
Minneapolis, MN

New York

Open Space Conservation Plan
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Bronx River Alliance Greenway Program

Farmland Protection Program
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Ohio

Office of Farmland Preservation
Ohio Department of Agriculture

Clean Ohio Fund
Links to the fund's four elements, each administered by a different state agency: Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program; Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program; Clean Ohio Trails Fund; and Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund.

Ohio Greenways

Ohio Field Office
Rails-To-Trails Conservancy

Ontario

Southern Ontario Greenway Strategy
Ontario Nature

Ontario Greenbelt Alliance

Greenbelt Plan
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Pennsylvania

Bureau of Farmland Preservation
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Administers the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program.

Pennsylvania Field Office
Rails-To-Trails Conservancy

Bureau of Recreation and Conservation
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Administers the Pennsylvania Greenways Program, the state Rails-to-Trails partnership and the Community Conservation Partnership Program, which provides grants and technical assistance to communities for recreational trail or land preservation projects.

Québec

Quebec Commission de protection du territoire agricole
French site of provincial commission for agricultural land preservation.

Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks

Coalition pour la protection du territoire agricole
English site of a coalition which supports the preservation of agricultural land in Quebec.

Wisconsin

Farmland Preservation Program
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Program designed to preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation.