As one of the only regional land trusts in northeast Wisconsin, Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust works to protect natural lands over a 12-county territory. This area encompasses a majority of the Green Bay watershed, one of the largest freshwater estuaries in the world and the source of one-third of the surface water flowing into Lake Michigan. Since 1996 they have preserved more than 6,000 acres which includes forests, wetlands and miles of shoreline.

We caught up with the staff of Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust to talk about how being accredited has impacted their organization.

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy staff during the renewal process, Indiangrass Preserve, Waller, TexasYou may know Coastal Prairie Conservancy, CPC, by their former name, Katy Prairie Conservancy, but their rebranding more accurately captures their expanded mission of land conservation in the Western Gulf region of Texas. While the Katy Prairie will always remain a critical area for conservation, CPC protects lands that stretch from Katy to the Gulf Coast. Coastal prairie lands are critical for the health of costal lands. Prairie grasses absorb and hold back floodwaters, and the wetlands are a diverse ecosystem.

We caught up with Coastal Prairie Conservancy to find out how becoming an accredited land trust has helped them grow and expand their mission.

Kibiuk Family Wildlife Sanctuary, Town of Trenton, Near the Village of Barneveld in Oneida County NY. In 2018 the Kibiuk Family reached out to Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust about protecting their Mother's property where they had already established a small wildlife sanctuary, seen here. In 2019 we put a conservation easement on the 21 acre property.
Photo by Dave Jabot, Conservation Director

Tucked between the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Ontario, in upstate New York, is the snowiest place east of the Rockies, with over 200 inches of snow annually. This is where you'll find Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust. Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is named for the Tug Hill region -- one of the most rural and remote sections of New York State and the Northeast. Their mission is to protect wildlands, working forests and the farms of the Tug Hill Region and to promote appreciation of the region's natural and cultural heritage. They envision a region that includes a mix of wild forest lands, working forest lands, and farms that support thriving people and communities, ecologically, economically and socially.

We spoke with Jonathan J. "JJ" Schell, Associate Director of Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, to learn more about their accreditation renewal process and outcomes. 

The staff of Eno River Association hanging out on the banks of the Eno River, Durham, North Carolina. Photo by Caroline Gilmore, www.carolinegilmore.com

Since 1966 Eno River Association has worked to actively protect and conserve the natural, historical and cultural resources of the Eno River basin in North Carolina. First accredited in 2010, they have successfully navigated the renewal process twice. They have protected 7,500 acres which are largely contained in six public parks and natural areas. The provide many programs and activities in the community, including the Festival of Eno, where they host thousands of people for a celebration of the region!