Protecting forever the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces of the Great Peninsula of Washington’s Puget Sound.
Our Story: Protecting our lands and waters

With over forty years of conservation accomplishments in the region, Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) is a trusted leader in our community. We work in collaboration with local governments, tribes, landowners, and community groups, providing the tools and expertise to preserve the special landscapes in the Great Peninsula region of Kitsap, north Mason, and west Pierce counties. We commit to caring for the lands we protect to ensure wildlife and people enjoy the many benefits of nature well into the future, and we enrich lives by offering opportunities for people to experience the natural world up close.
The mission of GPC is to protect forever the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces of the Great Peninsula of Washington’s Puget Sound. We do this by creating nature preserves, partnering with public agencies to create local parks, and by placing conservation easements on private land that help sustain family farms and forests through generations. Each year, GPC’s nature walks, youth education programs, and land stewardship activities get hundreds of people out on protected lands with the goal of fostering an enduring land conservation ethic among people of all ages.
Our work is made possible by generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and the passion of local landowners to protect their land. View our interactive map of protected lands to learn about how your support saves forests and streams near you!
40+ Years of Conservation in the Great Peninsula Region

Great Peninsula Conservancy’s roots go back nearly 45 years. Our story began in 1980 with the founding of the all-volunteer led Indianola Land Trust, the second oldest land trust in Washington state. In the next 15 years, the Hood Canal Land Trust (1985), Kitsap Land Trust (1991), and Peninsula Heritage Land Trust (1993) were founded. Klingel Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge was the first nature preserve established among the four groups in 1985. At the time, these trusts focused on local projects with great need – ensuring the protection of land vital to local ecosystem health. In 2000, the four groups joined together to become GPC.
Today, GPC is made up of a team of 13 full time staff, AmeriCorps VISTA Fellows, and an active board of directors. We celebrate our 25th Anniversary in May 2025. GPC is an accredited land trust, first recognized in 2015. To date, we have preserved over 11,800 acres of evergreen forests, salmon streams, marine shorelines, working farms, and community parks. We hold 72 preserves, 63 conservation easements and have assisted in the creation of countless city and county parks (like the txʷaalqəł Conservation Area in Gig Harbor).
Accreditation

As an accredited land trust, GPC demonstrates a commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of our organization, and meets the accreditation requirements drawn from them. The accreditation seal verifies that GPC has the policies and procedures in place to hold our most important promise: to protect the land forever. Learn more about Land Trust Accreditation.
Land Acknowledgement
Great Peninsula Conservancy acknowledges with gratitude that the land upon which we work is the traditional territory of the Suquamish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Skokomish, Squaxin Island, Puyallup, Nisqually, and other Coast Salish peoples. We recognize and honor their enduring presence and stewardship of this land since time immemorial.
GPC works collaboratively with Indigenous communities to prioritize land conservation, ecological restoration, and cultural preservation. This acknowledgment is one act in an ongoing process of strengthening our relationships with Indigenous communities as neighbors, colleagues, and partners in conservation.
For more information about the local tribes with whom GPC partners, visit their websites; Suquamish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Skokomish, Squaxin Island, Puyallup, Nisqually, and other Coast Salish peoples.
GPC’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
GPC has made a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This mission can only be achieved through the work of many hands and the input of many voices. Read our full statement here.