Rally for Land

Gathering with the accredited land trust community at Rally is always inspiring. You joined us at three Commission led workshops and brought fantastic questions and anecdotes (if you were unable to attend a workshop, please see below for slides). You spent time talking with us and sharing what it means for your land trust to be accredited. We're grateful for everyone who cast their vote in our survey and shared with all the Rally attendees how accredited has helped your organization the most. And we were able to come together to celebrate first-time and renewed land trusts. We can hardly 

Commission Workshops Slides

• Workshop D14 | Get Set for Success: Tips & Guidance for Avoiding Common Mistakes | download PDF
• Workshop F13 | Get Ready for Your Renewal of Accreditation | download PDF

Have questions about the workshop slides? Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Celebrating land trusts who achieved first-time accreditation

We celebrated the nine land trusts who achieved first-time accreditation since last Rally. These land trusts and their stories offer an inside view into all the inspiring conservation work happening across the country.

Conservation relies on innovation

• In the Pacific Northwest, Forterra is using land-based solutions to address the climate crisis and support equitable, green, and prosperous communities. In 2022, Forterra planted nearly 3,500 native evergreen trees as part of its program to offset carbon emissions with local forest restoration.
• On the opposite coast, Downeast Salmon Federation in Maine received a $1.8 million dollar grant to explore nature-based solutions to coastal resilience. The funding will help the land trust rehabilitate the salt marsh at three major sites.
• GreenTrust Alliance restores wetlands, streams, and floodplains in the Mid-Atlantic region. Its work ultimately improves wildlife habitat, water quality, and ecosystem services.
• Pound Ridge Land Conservancy in New York has been working to increase the ecological resilience of its landscapes. It converted a monoculture of Japanese barberry into a native meadow that now has over 40 different species.

Conservation requires having a long view, patience, and persistence

• In 2023, the Buck Hill Conservation Foundation in Pennsylvania completed its 20-year effort to acquire Chestnut Mountain. A place once heavily logged now has 5 miles of trails.
• After nearly three decades, Harford Land Trust in Maryland protected its number one target; the 347-acre Belle Vue Farm is adjacent to public lands, contains one mile of undisturbed Chesapeake Bay shoreline, and was recently listed as a site on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
• The all-volunteer Platte Land Trust in Missouri is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It was formed when the county had one park, no parks department, and was experiencing rapid suburban sprawl. Today, this regional land trust can act quickly to meet conservation needs, like when it helped its partners purchase an unplowed prairie that was on their on the wish list for years.

Conservation is about people

• Berkshire Natural Resources Council in Massachusetts works to connect landscapes and people to the land. Its trails app helps people plan their outdoor adventures, including a hike on the first 8-mile segment of The High Road, which is a vision of interconnected hiking trails that connect towns to towns and towns to trails.
• Falmouth Land Trust in Maine has been able to revive its educational programming. It brings me joy to think of first graders going on recess walks and middle schoolers removing invasive species as part of their Civic Engagement class.

Congratulations, to all, on joining the accredited land trust community.

Celebrating land trusts who achieved renewal

We celebrated the fifty-eight renewed land trusts. These land trusts are based in 21 states and collectively protect 4.6 million acres (or an area over two times the size of Yellowstone National Park). They have over 1,000 miles of trails (including over 100 miles designated for universal access) and engage with over 12,000 volunteers. Congratulations on continuing to uphold this mark of excellence in land conservation!

*denotes land trusts who achieved second renewal

• Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (NH)*
• Cayucos Land Conservancy (CA)
• Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust (ME)*
• Chestnut Hill Conservancy (Pennsylvania)
• ClearWater Conservancy (PA)*
• Columbia Land Conservancy (New York)
• Columbia Land Trust (WA)*
• Congaree Land Trust (SC)*
• Connecticut Farmland Trust (CT)*
• Conservation Florida (FL)*
• Delaware Highlands Conservancy (Pennsylvania)
• D&R Greenway Land Trust (NJ)*
• Driftless Area Land Conservancy (Wisconsin)
• Genesee Valley Conservancy (New York)
• Downeast Coastal Conservancy (ME)
• Edmund Niles Huyck Preserve (NY)
• Great Land Trust (Alaska)
• Great Swamp Watershed Association (New Jersey)
• Hollow Oak Land Trust (Pennsylvania)
• Houston Audubon (Texas)
• Interior Alaska Land Trust (AK)
• Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (IL)*
• Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy (South Carolina)
• Lakes Region Conservation Trust (New Hampshire)
• Landmark Conservancy (WI)*
• Loon Echo Land Trust (Maine)
• Methow Conservancy (WA)*
• Midcoast Conservancy (ME)*
• Mississippi Valley Conservancy (WI)*
• Mojave Desert Land Trust (California)
• Mountain Area Land Trust (CO)*
• Native Prairies Association of Texas (TX)
• Natural Land Institute (IL)
• North Carolina Coastal Land Trust (NC)*
• North Olympic Land Trust (Washington)
• Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust (Wisconsin)
• Pee Dee Land Trust (South Carolina)
• Piscataquog Land Conservancy (New Hampshire)
• Prickly Pear Land Trust (Montana)
• Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (NY)
• Salisbury Association (Connecticut)
• San Juan Preservation Trust (WA)*
• Southern Plains Land Trust (CO)
• Summit Land Conservancy (Utah)
• Tampa Bay Conservancy (Florida)
• Taos Land Trust (New Mexico)
• The Trust for Public Land (California)
• The Wetlands Conservancy (OR)*
• Transition Habitat Conservancy (California)
• Upper Savannah Land Trust (SC)
• Upper Valley Land Trust (NH)*
• Vinalhaven Land Trust (Maine)
• Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (PA)*
• Whatcom Land Trust (WA)*
• Whidbey Camano Land Trust (WA)*
• Winnakee Land Trust (New York)
• Woodstock Land Conservancy (New York)
• Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WY)*