Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is in the process of renewing accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Commission is an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance working to ensure the long-term protection of land by building and strengthening land trusts.
Damariscotta River Association, which joined with Pemaquid Watershed Association earlier this year to form Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, was awarded National Land Trust Accreditation in 2014.
To achieve accreditation, a land trust must complete a rigorous review process to demonstrate it is following the highest standards of fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership, sound transactions, and lasting stewardship of the lands they conserve. The Land Trust Accreditation recommends renewal of accreditation every five years and states the following goals:
• To foster continued implementation of all Land Trust Standards
and Practices.
• To reflect evolving best practices in the field.
• To confirm compliance with current accreditation indicators
and program requirements.
• To verify an accredited land trust’s action on expectations
for improvement.
• To identify and evaluate major changes in accredited land trusts.
During the process, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs.
To learn more about the accreditation process or to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to
info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Philadelphia Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
