The Trust for Public Land Earns National Recognition

The Trust for Public Land today announced that it has been been accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Committee Commission, joining a network of 389 accredited land trusts across America that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.

“The work of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is an essential ingredient in promoting and verifying high standards for process and accountability among land trusts, ensuring responsible land conservation and giving the public confidence in the conservation process,” said Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land. “We are pleased to have received formal accreditation and acknowledgement of our commitment to those high standards over our 45 years of conserving land for people.”

The Trust for Public Land had to provide extensive documentation and undergo a comprehensive review as part of its accreditation application. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that The Trust for Public Land’s work will be protected forever. Almost 20 million acres of farms, forests and natural areas vital to healthy communities are now permanently conserved by accredited land trusts.

“It is exciting to recognize The Trust for Public Land with this distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Commission. “Accredited land trusts are united behind strong ethical standards ensuring the places people love will be conserved forever. Accreditation recognizes [LAND TRUST] has demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”

The Trust for Public Land is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the most recent National Land Trust Census, released December 1, 2016 by the Land Trust Alliance. This comprehensive report also shows that accredited land trusts have made significant achievements.

• Accredited land trusts have steadily grown and now steward almost 80% of conservation lands and easements held by all land trusts.
• Accredited land trusts protected five times more land from 2010 to 2015 than land trusts that were not yet accredited.
• Accredited land trusts also have stronger systems and more resources to steward and defend their conservation lands forever.
• As a result, the public’s trust in land conservation has increased helping to win support for federal, state and local conservation funding measures.

A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits are detailed at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. Based in Washington, D.C., and with several regional offices, the Alliance represents about 1,000 member land trusts nationwide.

The Alliance’s leadership serves the entire land trust community—our work in the nation’s capital represents the policy priorities of land conservationists from every state; our education programs improve and empower land trusts from Maine to Alaska; and our comprehensive vision for the future of land conservation includes new partners, new programs and new priorities. Connect with us online at www.landtrustalliance.org.