Second Round Pilot Participants Announced
Twenty-three land trusts from 16 states have been selected to participate in the second round of testing of the new national accreditation program. These organizations have volunteered to demonstrate publicly their commitment to high standards and to serve the land conservation community and the American public by shaping this new program. In all, 44 organizations are participating in the pilot program this year.

Boxford Open Land Trust, located in Massachusetts, is an all-volunteer land trust participating in the second round of the pilot program. “Our land trust is eager to earn the accreditation seal when it becomes available so we can visibly demonstrate our commitment to high standards and permanent land protection,” said Vice President Natasha Grigg.

See the full list of participants.

Initial Feedback from First Round Pilot Participants
As we prepare for the second round of the pilot program, we are gathering feedback from first round participants on how well the preliminary design of the program works in practice. This feedback will be used to make adjustments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.

Participants have provided valuable critiques on specific aspects of the process which will be used to refine the program before March 2008. They have also shared stories of how the accreditation program has already benefited their organizations. “We would want other organizations to know that this process – time consuming though it is – is absolutely worth the time and effort it requires to complete!” says Lara Ryan, executive director of Green River Valley Land Trust. “We identified the ways in which we've improved our work, we've identified areas that still need attention, and we've had a measurable means to show our Board how we operate, aside from the usual metrics of “bucks and acres.”

2007 Lottery for First Year Applications
As we announced last month, the Commission will conduct a lottery in 2007 to select applicants for the first year of the program. Land trusts eligible for accreditation that wish to be part of the lottery drawing must submit an electronic "intent to apply" by August 31, 2007. This is your organization's "lottery ticket." Names of applicants will be drawn at Rally 2007: The National Land Conservation Conference in Denver, Colorado in early October. Results will be posted on our website by mid-October.

Organizations interested in accreditation should review the 2007 pilot application and Applicant Handbook to determine whether they are eligible and are prepared to apply.

*The 2007 accreditation application lottery is now closed.*