10/15/2008
Accreditation Awarded by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
AUBURN, CA – The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, announced last week that Placer Land Trust has been awarded accredited status, making it the first land trust in the Sierra to receive this distinct honor.
“Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. “The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land.”
Placer Land Trust was one of only three land trusts awarded accreditation in California, and 39 across the nation, putting Placer Land Trust in the top 1% of land trusts in the nation.
“It is reassuring to know that others throughout the nation agree with and recognize the important work the Placer Land Trust is doing to preserve Placer County’s natural communities and farmlands,” said Jim Holmes, Chairman of the Placer County Board of Supervisors. “I extend my sincerest congratulations to the Board of Directors and the Placer Land Trust staff.”
The Trust received its accreditation status at a special event at Rally: the National Land Conservation Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, in September.
“Placer Land Trust’s accredited status demonstrates our commitment to best management practices and permanent land conservation,” says Jeff Darlington, Executive Director. “Our land trust is a stronger organization today having gone through the rigorous accreditation program.”
Land is America’s most important and valuable resource. Conserving our land helps ensure clean air and drinking water, food security, scenic landscapes and views, recreational places, and habitat for the diversity of life on earth. Across the country, local citizens and communities have come together to form land trusts to save the places they love. Community leaders in land trusts across the country have worked with willing landowners to save over 37 million acres of farms, forests, parks and places people care about. Strong, well-managed land trusts provide local communities with effective champions and caretakers of their critical land resources, and safeguard the land through the generations.
Formed by the community and incorporated in 1991, Placer Land Trust is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Trust works with willing landowners and conservation partners to permanently preserve natural and agricultural lands in Placer County for future generations. With the help of the community, Placer Land Trust has preserved 4,654 acres to date. More information is available on the Trust’s website, www.placerlandtrust.org.
About The Land Trust Accreditation Commission The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awards the accreditation seal to community institutions that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance established in 2006, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. More information is available on the Commission’s website, www.landtrustaccreditation.org
