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Adopt Land Trust Standards and Practices

What does it mean to adopt Land Trust Standards and Practices?

All Land Trust Alliance member land trusts must adopt Land Trust Standards and Practices (the Standards) as their guiding principles. Adopting them doesn’t mean that a land trust has fully implemented all of these best practices. What it means is that:

  • The land trust has reviewed the Standards.
  • It agrees that the Standards are the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust.
  • It adopts the Standards and commits to implementing them as guidelines for the organization's operations.

How do you adopt the Standards?

It’s pretty straightforward.

First, land trust leaders carefully read the 2017 Standards. You can also check out this brief summary about what’s new, what to expect and where to find more information regarding the 2017 revisions. And, if you're wondering what happened to a practice (or part of a practice) from the 2004 version in the 2017 revised Standards, see this crosswalk comparison for help.

Then, the board meets to discuss and sign the resolution of adoption.You may upload the resolution online via the Board Adoption Resolution form. 

You can also mail your signed resolution to the Land Trust Alliance. Address it to us:

Attn: Membership Coordinator
Mail: Land Trust Alliance, 1250 H Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005
Fax: 202-638-4730
Phone: 202-638-4725
Email: membership@lta.org

Congratulations! You just joined more than 1,000 other land trusts that are striving to achieve excellence and uphold the public trust. Ready to start implementing?