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The Land Trust Accreditation Commission extends its sincere thanks all of the land trusts that submitted applications for accreditation as part of the 2007 pilot program: Bedminster Land Conservancy (PA)
Black Canyon Land Trust (CO)
Boxford Open Land Trust (MA)
Brandywine Conservancy (PA)
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (NC)
Cascade Land Conservancy (WA)
Central Valley Farmland Trust (CA)
Coastal Mountains Land Trust (ME)
Colorado Open Lands (CO)
Eagle Valley Land Trust (CO)
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (MD)
Five Valleys Land Trust (MT)
Geneva Lake Conservancy (WI)
Green River Valley Land Trust (WY)
Greenbelt Land Trust (OR)
Greensboro Land Trust (VT)
Heritage Conservancy (PA)
Lake Champlain Land Trust (VT)
Lake Forest Open Lands Association (IL)
Leelanau Conservancy (MI)
Maui Coastal Land Trust (HI)
Minnesota Land Trust (MN)
Monadnock Conservancy (NH)
Monmouth Conservation Foundation (NJ)
Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia (GA)
North Branch Land Trust (PA)
Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (VA)
Open Space Conservancy (Land Acquisition Affiliate of Open Space Institute) (NY)
Peninsula Open Space Trust (CA)
Rensselaer Land Trust (NY)
Sippican Lands Trust (MA)
Southern Rockies Agricultural Land Trust (NM)
Upstate Forever (SC)
Washtenaw Land Trust (MI)
West Wisconsin Land Trust (WI)
Westchester Land Trust (NY)
The Wilderness Land Trust (CO)
Willistown Conservation Trust (PA) About the Pilot Program “We know it will be a substantial commitment of time, but serving as a participant in the pilot test program would enable us to give back to the land trust community and help ensure the credibility of our collective work.” The Commission will formally test the complete accreditation application and review process in 2007. Two rounds of pilots will allow us to do the following: - Learn how much time it takes applicants to apply for accreditation.
- Learn how much time it takes the Commission to review applications.
- Clarify and document decision-making criteria to ensure consistency.
- Finalize all the steps in the accreditation application and review process.
The Commission will conduct the second round of pilots later this year with expanded coverage of land trust demographics. Land trusts that participate in the pilot tests will help determine what information is essential for the Commission to have in order to make objective decisions. Participants will undergo a complete review of their application and will pay all fees in 2007, although final decisions will not be made until 2008. Pilot organizations will be up for renewal in 2012. One applicant for the pilot program summarized their interest and the purpose of the pilots well. “We are interested in serving as a pilot test organization for accreditation for three primary reasons: 1. Help us continually assess and improve our own operations; 2. Allow us to help our colleagues through the region…navigate accreditation when they are ready; and 3. Provide …appropriate feedback on the accreditation process to construct the most effective program possible.” Pilot Participation
Last fall land trusts across the country responded enthusiastically to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission’s call for organizations interested in the 2007 pilot program. These organizations are excited to showcase their work and provide a service to the land trust community. Pilot organizations are being chosen to represent a diversity of land trust characteristics – such as volunteer or staffed, age of the organization, size of geographic region served, location, type of land protected and protection methods used. “We have a long and deep understanding of many of the issues facing land trusts and feel that we can be helpful in evaluating and improving the accreditation process so that it is valuable for the individual land trust and raises the level of performance for the overall land trust community.” “The …Conservancy has long been a supporter of the [Land Trust Alliance's] efforts to build the collective strength of the land trust community. Today we can think of no better way to bolster and improve the great work we all do than to develop a rigorous and meaningful program of accreditation. Accordingly, we are eager to do all we can to see the accreditation program succeed.” Pilot Program Timeline February 2007 | First round of pilot organizations announced | | Pilot applications due | June 2007 | Second round of pilot organizations announced | August 2007 | Pilot applications due | | Pilot program evaluated | | Final decisions announced on pilot applications (concurrent with first round of 2008 application decisions) | “The Land Trust sees the accreditation process as imposing the discipline needed to bring our own house into order. We also believe that the current regulatory climate, proliferation of aging, all-volunteer boards, and more challenging fundraising environment will drive land trusts to consider new partnerships. The Land Trust wants to be prepared to participate in this new and challenging arena.”
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