• Download template public notice form
• The notice to stakeholders must include information on how interested parties can comment, when comments are due and the requirement that comments must relate to Land Trust Standards and Practices. For your convenience we have provided a template public notice form that your organization can use to announce its application for accreditation and the opportunity for the public to submit comments. You may edit the language, but the key components – how to comment, that comments must relate to national quality standards, and a target due date – must be included.

Notice must be completed by the time the complete application is submitted. Include copies of the notice(s), along with a short summary of who was notified and when, in your application. The application is not complete without copies of the notice(s).

Land trusts interact with a wide array of groups and individuals, and there is no one-size-fits-all list of stakeholders. Each land trust must determine who its most important internal and external stakeholders are and the best way to reach them. Consider people knowledgeable about your organization or its work who might have comments relevant to accreditation. Some specific options your land trust might consider:

• Newsletter: If you run an article in your newsletter, send us a copy of the newsletter along with general information on the size and type of list it was sent to, not the actual list (for example, "sent to 750 dues-paying members and local town council members").
• Targeted letter to knowledgeable colleagues: If you send a more targeted letter to a small group of stakeholders, we would like to see a copy of the letter and the list of names and/or affiliations of the people it was sent to.
• Press releases or letters to the editor: You may also consider sending a press release or letter to the editor to local or regional newspapers. You may send us a copy of the release and a list of newspapers it was sent to.
• Website: Many organizations have posted information on how to submit a public comment on their websites. You may simply indicate in a cover note to us that information was posted on your website and how you let people know it was posted.

Your land trust may choose to implement one or more of the outreach methods listed (or other methods not listed) for each category of stakeholder (internal and external). We will review the notice materials to determine that the applicant made a reasonable effort to inform stakeholders about their application for accreditation.

No. Paid notices and/or advertisements, special color-printed notifications, etc., are not required.

We secured permission to share the following public notice strategy from Triangle Land Conservancy (NC). It is simple, and follows the guidance above.

While all comments are shared with the review team, public comments are not the sole determining factor in an accreditation decision. A negative comment may lead to a request for additional information and follow-up depending on the substance and nature of the comment, particularly if a comment indicates that a land trust may not be complying with the Standards or accreditation requirements.