Newly Accredited Land Trusts

August 29 , 2012

Congratulations to the twenty-three new land trusts that have just earned the important distinction of accreditation.

Thank you for all you do to strengthen land conservation!

Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (NH)

Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) was founded in 1999 by a group of friends and neighbors who shared a concern about the rapid loss of open lands in their community. After successfully raising the funds to purchase a local property slated for development, the group decided there was a need in the larger area for an organization which could assist in similar efforts, and created ACT.

Bayou Land Conservancy (TX)

Bayou Land Conservancy was formed in 1996 as an offshoot of the Bayou Preservation Association, a Houston group dedicated to protecting the bayou systems of Houston. To conserve the bayous and their water quality, the Conservancy protects the floodplain green spaces surrounding them. Since its inception, Bayou Land Conservancy has kept the land-water connection as its primary motivator for the land it protects, and all its conservation easements contain bayou tributaries.

Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (ME)

Founded in 1985, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) conserves the remarkable diversity of the natural heritage of Brunswick, Topsham and Bowdoin. With the conservation of 1,900 acres of natural areas to date, BTLT is actively pursuing its mission to "preserve, protect and steward the cherished landscapes and rich natural resources of our communities, to provide access for recreation, and to support local agriculture and other traditional land uses, now and for generations to come."

Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust (WV)

Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust works throughout the Lost Cacapon River watershed to assist landowners and communities in maintaining healthy rivers, protecting forests and farmland, and in preserving rural heritage for the enjoyment and well being of present and future generations. To date, and with the community’s support, it has protected 38 parcels representing 10,336 acres.

Central Indiana Land Trust (IN)

Through land protection, stewardship and education, Central Indiana Land Trust preserves natural areas, improving air and water quality and enhancing life in its communities for present and future generations. It works in an 11 county region with a population of nearly 1.8 million people.

Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust (ME)

Founded in 1987, Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust was originally named the Cumberland Mainland & Islands Trust until, after the island of Chebeague seceded from Cumberland, it adapted to reflect its continued strong partnership with the new town. It has worked to protect vital natural resources in Cumberland and Chebeague including shoreline, nesting islands, wildlife habitat, wetlands, woodlands and farmland.

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy (MI)

Chippewa Watershed Conservancy works to protect open space and natural habitat in the Chippewa River Watershed in Central Michigan. The Conservancy protects sensitive wildlife habitat and open space and scenic views for future generations; this is accomplished through voluntary conservation easements and acquisition of land.

Columbia Land Trust (WA)

Since 1990, Columbia Land Trust has been working in the greater Columbia River region to conserve signature landscapes and vital habitats. By working collaboratively with landowners, local residents, government entities and other nonprofit organizations, the Columbia Land Trust has conserved more than 18,000 acres from the east side of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean in Oregon and Washington.

Connecticut Farmland Trust (CT)

Founded in 2002, Connecticut Farmland Trust is the only private statewide conservation organization dedicated solely to permanently protecting Connecticut's farmland. It accomplishes this by: working with Connecticut farmers to protect their land for agricultural use by acquiring agricultural conservation easements and farmland; sharing expertise and technical knowledge to assist landowners, land trusts, town officials, and state agencies in protecting agricultural land; and promoting farmland preservation education through presentations and outreach.

Crested Butte Land Trust (CO)

Formed in 1991, Crested Butte Land Trust has worked with private landowners on a voluntary basis in Gunnison County, CO. Its purpose, in the words of former board member Jackie Ingham, is “preserving the present for the future.” To date, the land trust has facilitated the preservation of over 5,000 acres of land, of which almost half has been conserved by conservation easements.

Greenwich Land Trust (CT)

The need for a local land trust in Greenwich was recognized more than a decade before Greenwich Land Trust was incorporated in 1976, and since then the Greenwich Land Trust has worked every day to protect the community by conserving and caring for open space in the Greenwich area. Its work promotes the environmental health and well-being of the community and local residents by protecting waterways, trees and other natural vegetation.

Kettle Moraine Land Trust (WI)

Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) was formed in 2000 with the initial goal of protecting the Island Woods preserve on Lauderdale Lakes. Their work soon expanded to adjacent lakes, and today KMLT serves all of Walworth County, WI to protect land and to restore habitat through partnerships with agencies, landowners and the general public.

Land Conservancy of West Michigan (MI)

Land Conservancy of West Michigan, formerly the Natural Areas Conservancy of West Michigan, was founded in 1976 by a dedicated group of volunteers who sought to protect West Michigan's natural landscape. Today, with a professional staff and office in Grand Rapids, the Conservancy is the only land trust solely dedicated to the permanent protection of important natural lands and open space in West Michigan.

Lowcountry Open Land Trust (SC)

Founded in 1986, Lowcountry Open Land Trust is a local land conservation organization that is focused on preserving natural and rural land throughout the Lowcountry of South Carolina. It has protected more than 88,000 acres of ecologically, agriculturally, and historically significant land. It also provides expertise, technical assistance and material support to numerous conservation groups and partnerships in the local area, across the Lowcountry.

Methow Conservancy (WA)

Methow Conservancy formed in 1996 from a merger between the Methow Valley Land Trust and the Methow Valley Environmental Center. What started as an energetic vision to protect land in the Valley has grown into a well-respected mainstay of the Methow Valley community. With a growing staff, active board and a strong membership base, the Conservancy continues to meet its mission to “inspire people to care for and conserve the land of the Methow Valley, ensuring it will remain a place where future generations can enjoy the rural character and natural beauty we cherish today.”

Mountain Area Land Trust (CO)

Mountain Area Land Trust, founded in 1992, today has a 2,000-square-mile service area across the mountain towns of Evergreen, Conifer, Bailey, Idaho Springs, Fairplay, and Georgetown. The land trust promotes the conservation of lands important for maintaining the integrity of local water quality, protecting wildlife habitats and agricultural lands, and creating regional parks for outdoor recreation through public education, community outreach and by providing technical assistance to craft conservation easements based on sound land management guidelines.

North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy (MI)

North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, founded in 1972, is a member-supported organization preserving open space in northwest Oakland County. To date, over 1,100 acres have been preserved in six townships, with parcels ranging from 1/2 acre to over 100 acres. The Conservancy accomplishes this by acquiring land and property easements to conserve the woods, fields, streams, wetlands and other natural features in the headwaters areas of the Clinton, Shiawassee, Huron, and Flint rivers.

Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (ME)

Established in 1969, the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association is a land trust and advocacy group with a mission to conserve and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Sheepscot Watershed, which encompasses 320 square miles in mid-coast Maine. The organization currently protects more than 3,170 acres through purchases and conservation easements. This includes over 15 miles of Sheepscot River frontage.

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (MI)

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, created in 1991, works to permanently protect natural, historic and scenic landscapes in nine counties of southwest Michigan. SWMLC has protected more than 10,400 acres of dunes, wetlands, forests, savannas, prairies, farms and vineyards that give its region its distinctive character. These landscapes have been safeguarded through a combination of donations and purchases of conservation easements and fee title land.

Squam Lakes Conservation Society (NH)

Squam Lakes Conservation Society (SLCS), created in 1960, is dedicated to the protection of the natural environment in the Squam Lakes Region of central New Hampshire for the benefit of all present and future residents and visitors. SLCS achieves the long-term protection of land through conservation easements and land ownership, working toward its goal of a unique region of islands, shorefront, back lands, and mountains wherein a harmony between the natural environment and mankind is preserved forever.

The Nature Conservancy (VA)

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The organization addresses the most pressing conservation threats at the largest scale. Founded in 1951, it has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide, and operates in more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. It works in all 50 states and more than 30 countries – protecting habitats from grasslands to coral reefs, from Australia to Alaska to Zambia.

Vermont Land Trust (VT)

Since 1977, Vermont Land Trust has permanently conserved more than 1,650 parcels of land covering more than 500,000 acres, or about eight percent of the private, undeveloped land in the state. The conserved land includes more than 700 working farms, hundreds of thousands of acres of productive forestland, and numerous parcels of community land. Vermont Land Trust is working to protect the land that gives Vermont its rural character and makes the state so special.

Whatcom Land Trust (WA)

Since Whatcom Land Trust was created in 1983, it has worked to preserve and protect wildlife habitat, scenic, agricultural and open space lands in Whatcom County for future generations by securing interests in land and promoting land stewardship. Using creative and sometimes complex solutions, Whatcom Land Trust works collaboratively with private landowners, communities, public agencies and other organizations to ensure the local, natural resources that sustained the community in the past continue to enhance quality of life.