The Ozark Land Trust is part of a rapidly expanding land conservation movement throughout the United States that now includes thousands of land trusts. Land trusts are private, nonprofit, voluntary organizations dedicated to helping landowners protect land in perpetuity through various methods that include conservation easements, nature preserves, and partnerships with conservation organizations.

OLT has dozens of projects protecting more than 30,000 acres of land throughout the Ozark region. It has been instrumental in protecting many natural and geological features such as waterfalls, caves, springs, bluffs, forests, prairies, glades, rivers, and wetlands. OLT also preserves urban greenspace, agricultural lands, historic places, and sensitive ecological sites.

ORLT is a non-profit conservation land trust with tax-exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to OLT are tax deductible. Ozark Land Trust was founded in 1984.