Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence
One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the natural spaces they love. Since 1967, the Branford Land Trust has been doing just that for the people of Branford. We are proud to announce that we have renewed our land trust accreditation — proving once again that, as part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, we are committed to conservation excellence.
“Renewing our accreditation shows the BLT’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation here in Branford,” said Julie Wagner, BLT president. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our strength means special places — such as Van Wie Woods, Jarvis Creek Farm & Stony Creek Preserves, and the Pisgah Brook and Saltonstall Mountain Preserves — will be protected for generations to come.”
The BLT provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that the BLT’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts now steward over 20 million acres — the size of our treasured Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined.
“We are proud to recognize BLT’s continued commitment to conservation excellence,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction that stands for excellence, trust and permanence. The BLT is part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts that are united by their strong ethical practices. Accredited land trusts inspire confidence and respect among their peers and in their communities.”
The Branford Land Trust is one of 1,281 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. n
About Land Trust Accreditation Commission
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
