Mays Pond Fall Wildflowers
 

National Land Trust
Accreditation Program

In September 2005, the Land Trust Alliance created a voluntary national land trust accreditation program based on an independent review of a conservation organization’s compliance with the Land Trust Standards and Practices (Indicator). The program is managed by a commission who is responsible for ensuring the highest level of accountability for the accreditation process. That process includes verification that a land trust successfully implements thirty-seven practices that indicate its ability to operate in an ethical, legal, and technically sound manner, and ensure the long term protection of the land entrusted to it in the public interest. Now in its inaugural year, the first accreditation class is comprised of eighty applicants, including Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy complies with national quality standards. The standards include:

  • Standard 1: Mission
  • Standard 2: Compliance with Laws
  • Standard 3: Board Accountability
  • Standard 4: Conflicts of Interest
  • Standard 5: Fundraising
  • Standard 6: Financial and Asset Management
  • Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and Consultants
  • Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects
  • Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions
  • Standard 10: Tax Benefits
  • Standard 11: Conservation Easement Stewardship
  • Standard 12: Fee Land Stewardship

Within each standard are a series of indicator practices that address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For a full description of the Standards and Practices (Indicator), click here.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/current-applicants/action-public-comment Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy’s application will be most useful by September 15th.