national trust

A national trust is an organisation dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of a particular geographic region. Although the focus of a national trust may vary by region, the principal role is to ensure the preservation of historically significant items, and to conserve areas of natural beauty. National trusts generally operate as private non-profit organisations. The first such trust organisation, The Trustees of Reservations, originated in 1890 as a regional group serving the state of Massachusetts, USA. The first on a national level, the National Trust, was founded in England in 1895 and operates as a charitable organisation serving England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Other national trusts have since been set up around the world. In 2007 the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) was established at a gathering in New Delhi, India, with a mandate to support collaboration and best practices among national trusts and similar associations. It has member organisations from over 50 countries. List of national trusts A partial list of national trusts and similar organisations: Acting for Future Generations (Senegal) Addis Woubet (Ethiopia) African Union of Conservationists (Uganda) Amenity 2000 Association Japan (Japan) An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland (Ireland) Associação para a constituição da Fundação Nacional para a conservação do Património Português (Portugal) Badan Warisan Malaysia (Heritage of Malaysia Trust) (Malaysia) Bahamas National Trust (Bahamas) Barbados National Trust (Barbados) Bermuda National Trust (Bermuda) Calcutta Tercentenary Trust (India) Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (Kenya) Conservation Trust, South Africa (South Africa) Conservatoire du Littoral (France) Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda (Uganda) Czech National Trust o.p.s.