Columbia Land Trust Applies for Land Trust Accreditation
How do you know if your local land trust is effective, efficient, and ethical in its work to conserve important natural places and working lands forever? The Land Trust Alliance has designed a program to answer this question. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land trusts that meet national quality standards for protecting and caring for important lands. The accreditation process includes an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. The program has been developed to foster public confidence in land conservation and help ensure the long-term protection of land.
Columbia Land Trust is pleased to announce that it is applying for accreditation through this program. Since its founding more than two decades ago, the Land Trust has pursued the highest degree of professionalism as it conserves and cares for vital lands, waters, and wildlife of the Columbia River region. Through the rigorous accreditation process, we are advancing our commitment to excellence. Becoming an accredited land trust will be an objective affirmation that Columbia Land Trust meets national standards, upholds the public trust, and ensures that its conservation actions are permanent.
A public comment period is now open. The Commission requests public input and accepts signed written comments on pending applications. Columbia Land Trust invites you to participate in the accreditation process by submitting a comment to the Commission. Comments must relate to how the land trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operations of the land trust. For a full list of standards, see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org. 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 Columbia Land Trust’s application will be most useful if received by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission by December 1, 2011.
