Newly Accredited Land Trusts

February 9 , 2011

Congratulations to land trusts who have earned accreditation through the accreditation program this year.

Thank you for all you do to strengthen land conservation!

Columbia Land Conservancy (NY) The Columbia Land Conservancy works with the community to conserve the farmland, forests, wildlife habitat and rural character of Columbia County, strengthening connections between people and the land. The land trust also offers free educational and recreational programs to children and adults. Over the past 24 years, the Columbia Land Conservancy protected 20,930 acres of woodlands, fields and working landscapes with 148 conservation easements.	Photo courtesy of Columbia Land Conservancy
Ducks Unlimited and its affiliate, Wetlands America Trust (TN) Ducks Unlimited (DU) takes a continental, landscape approach to wetland conservation. Since 1937, DU has conserved more than 12 million acres of waterfowl habitat across North America. While DU works in all 50 states, the organization focuses its efforts and resources on the habitats most beneficial to waterfowl. Since its inception 25 years ago, the goal of Wetlands America Trust (WAT) has been to provide specialized financial and fund-raising support to Ducks Unlimited. WAT's principal role is the fiduciary responsibility for Ducks Unlimited's endowment and land holdings, including conservation easements.
Eastern Sierra Land Trust (CA) For 10 years, the Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) has helped families preserve their working farms and ranches in the face of pressure to subdivide their properties, protected critical habitats and offered the entire Eastern Sierra community, residents and visitors the opportunity to connect with its treasured lands. To fulfill its mission, ESLT commits its time and resources to three specific programs: Working Farms and Ranches, Critical Habitats and Community Connections. Through continued member support and successful fundraising, ESLT plans to expand its efforts to additional critical habitat and important Eastern Sierra landscapes.
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (IA) Since its inception in 1979, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) has helped protect more than 110,000 acres of Iowa's prairies, wetlands, woodlands, greenways, trails and river corridors. The mission of INHF is “to protect Iowa's land, water and wildlife for ourselves and ‘for those who follow.’” The Foundation was created by a nucleus of business and community leaders, and today more than 75 of Iowa's leaders now volunteer on its board of directors or serve as advisors.
Joshua’s Tract Conservation and Historic Trust (CT) In 1676, Joshua, son of Uncas, Mohegan Sachem, bequeathed his hunting grounds in the heart of eastern Connecticut to "16 men of Norwich"— and from that stems the name of Joshua’s Trust, a nonprofit designed to supplement the open space and historic conservation efforts of federal, state and local governments by receiving gifts of land, conservation easements and money, along with the purchase of tracts of land it considers especially important to preserve. Since its founding in 1966, as a joint venture of the Mansfield Historical Society and the Mansfield Conservation Commission, it now owns or protects by easement more than 4,000 acres of land in northeast Connecticut.
Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County (PA) Since 1995, the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County has ensured the perpetual preservation and stewardship of open space, natural resources, historic sites and working agricultural lands throughout Southern Chester County. The land trust seeks to work with landowners who voluntarily wish to preserve the resources inherent on their lands, and as of 2009, has preserved over 400 acres within Kennett Township.	Photo courtesy of The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County
Montgomery County Lands Trust (PA) Montgomery County Lands Trust (MCLT) was established in 1993 at the same time that the county commissioners adopted the first Montgomery County Open Space Program. The group of county leaders who spearheaded the first $100 Million Open Space Preservation program felt strongly that a private, non-profit organization was needed to complement the public effort to address the increasing loss of green space and natural resource areas throughout Montgomery County. Since then, MCLT has worked to preserve and connect the natural areas, farmland and neighborhood green spaces which contribute to the community’s quality of life, a clean and abundant water supply and the health of the region’s economy.	Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Lands Trust
National Committee for the New River (NC) In 1974, the National Committee for the New River (NCNR) was organized to stop the construction of two dams on the New River, which would have flooded 42,000 acres in North Carolina and southwestern Virginia. With the destruction of so much land and property, the fight became a national one. In 1976, NCNR was successful, when a 26.5-mile section of the River was designated a Federal Scenic River. Since then, it has worked with citizen groups to protect the river, and in 1991 it reorganized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, adding a land protection dimension to its mission. To date, NCNR has protected over 5,500 acres of land important to the health and natural resource values of the New River, and stabilized or restored more than 55 miles of stream and riverbank.
Piedmont Environmental Council and its affiliate, Piedmont Foundation (VA) Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) has helped landowners permanently protect over 336,000 acres of rural or natural land in nine counties and one city in the northern Piedmont of Virginia to ensure the region is always characterized by its open spaces, healthy environment and cultural resources. The Piedmont Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization governed by a six-member board, was established to hold and manage special funds in support of PEC, assuring its capacity to respond to key opportunities and challenges to fulfill its core mission over the long term.
Redding Land Trust (CT) In 1965, the Redding Land Trust was founded in order to preserve Redding's natural heritage of open space, and today holds, in outright gifts or in conservation easements, some 1,600 acres of meadows and woodlands, saved forever from the bulldozer. Preserved properties range from a few acres to large tracts of 100 acres or more. These, along with major tracts purchased by the town and the presence of Putnam and Huntington State Parks, make Redding a unique green oasis amid surrounding towns.	Photo courtesy of Redding Land Trust
Sakonnet Preservation Association (RI) In 1972, the Sakonnet Preservation Association, Inc. was founded as the first private, non-profit land trust in Rhode Island with a mission to preserve the rural character and natural resources of Little Compton for the lasting benefit of the community. Over the years, it’s dedicated the efforts of its all-volunteer board to fulfilling this mission, and to date has protected over 60 properties totaling 400-plus acres of Little Compton land.	Photo courtesy of Sakonnet Preservation Association, Inc.
Sempervirens Fund (CA) Sempervirens Fund is California’s oldest land trust and the only organization exclusively devoted to permanently protecting the coast redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Since its founding in 1900, the land trust has protected over 25,000 acres of redwood forests, planted more than 23,000 trees and built and maintained more than 60 miles of hiking trails.	Photo courtesy of Sempervirens Fund
Shasta Land Trust (CA) Shasta Land Trust was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organization dedicated to permanently conserving open space, wildlife habitat and agricultural land. The Shasta County region faces increasing development pressure, with the county’s population expected to nearly double by 2050 — a threat to the large ranches that help define the character and appearance of the region. In its history, the land trust has been successful with many conservation accomplishments, and continues to work towards meaningful and lasting land protection for the region.	Photo by Ben Miles, Shasta Land Trust
Texas Land Conservancy (TX) The story of the Texas Land Conservancy begins with Ned Fritz, the land trust’s founder and known by many as the “father of Texas conservation.” The land trust was originally founded as the Natural Area Preservation Association in 1982. Its inception was due to the increasing demand on natural properties for development, many of which were too small to be noticed by larger conservation organizations. Ned decided there was need for a land trust that would take on these smaller, but equally important lands and work to preserve them. Now over 20 years later, it has grown to become one of the oldest and largest land trusts in the state, protecting land with a focus on projects that are ecologically representative of the eco-region, and placing a high priority on properties with threatened or endangered species.	Photo courtesy of Texas Land Conservancy
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust (NY) In 1990, a group of Tug Hill residents founded the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust to increase awareness and appreciation of the Tug Hill region through educational efforts, field trip and special events, and retain the forest, farm, recreation and wild lands of the region through voluntary, private land protection efforts. The land trust was formed as a regional, private and nonprofit organization to primarily serve the portions of Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Herkimer and Oswego counties that fall within the boundaries of the Tug Hill region in northern New York State. It was incorporated as an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1991. To date, it has worked with 33 land owners to protect over 5,000 acres.	Photo courtesy of Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust (VA) In 2003, the Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust was formed by local landowners to preserve the Eastern Shore’s prime farm and forest land; its scenic, fragile water front and rural byways; its historic resources and traditional land use patterns; and its world class natural resources and wildlife habitat. In Accomack and Northampton Counties, the land trust promotes voluntary land protection options, advises landowners of the economic benefits of conservation easements and educates the public about the high value to the community of protecting land in perpetuity.	Photo courtesy of Virginia Eastern Shore Land Trust, Inc.
Western Virginia Land Trust (VA) The Western Virginia Land Trust (WVLT ) was formed in 1996 as western Virginia's regional land trust to preserve the region's unique scenic, historic, agricultural, recreational and natural features. By educating landowners, elected officials, businesses and the general public the land trust encourages respect for the environment and arranges voluntary conservation easements that protect land forever. WVLT’s educational activities help landowners make informed decisions about how various land conservation options can affect their estate planning, taxes and the future of their land.	Photo by Jonathan Roberts