The Branford Land Trust is pleased to announce that it has achieved national recognition as an Accredited Land Trust! We join a network of more than 400 land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.
“It is exciting to recognize the Branford Land Trust with this national mark of distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. “Members and donors can trust that the BLT, along with more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country, are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
During the past five years, and with the help of countless volunteers, the BLT has organized and provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. In August, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that the BLT’s lands will be responsibly protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres of land – the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
“Accreditation demonstrates the Branford Land Trust’s commitment to permanent land conservation in Branford,” said Pete Raymond, President of the BLT. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program. Our strength means special places – such as Short Beach Preserve, Van Wie Woods, and the Pisgah Brook Preserve – will be protected forever, making Branford an even greater place for us and our children.”
The Branford Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1967 with the goal of protecting Branford’s natural resources. For more than 50 years, the Trust has honored its mission by acquiring and managing open space, promoting education about our natural resources, and encouraging our community to get involved. Today, the BLT owns more than 1,000 acres in over 130 parcels and holds conservation easements on another 400 acres. The BLT is run by volunteers and supported by over 500 member families and businesses.
The BLT is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
About the 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.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices.
The Alliance’s leadership serves the entire land trust community—our work in the nation’s capital represents the policy priorities of land conservationists from every state; our education programs improve and empower land trusts from Maine to Alaska; and our comprehensive vision for the future of land conservation includes new partners, new programs and new priorities. Connect with us online at www.landtrustalliance.org.