LTAC_seal_greenThe Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC) has achieved renewed land trust accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.

CTNC was awarded renewed accreditation this August and is one of 317 land trusts from across the country that are now accredited. Accredited land trusts are authorized to display a seal indicating to the public that they meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. The seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation.

“The Conservation Trust for North Carolina is one of the first land trusts to achieve renewed accreditation, a significant achievement and  major milestone for the accreditation program. CTNC is an important member of the accredited land trust community that protects more than three quarters of the 20,645,165 acres currently owned or protected by a conservation easement held by a land trust,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. “Accreditation renewal, which must be completed every five years, provides the public with an assurance that accredited land trusts continue to meet exceedingly high standards for quality.”

Each land trust that achieved renewed accreditation submitted extensive documentation and underwent a rigorous review. “Through accreditation renewal, land trusts are part of an important evaluation and improvement process that verifies their operations continue to be effective, strategic and in accordance with strict requirements,” said Van Ryn.

“We are proud to receive national re-accreditation and we look forward to continuing our work with willing landowners and local land trusts to save more of the places people love across North Carolina,” said Reid Wilson, CTNC Executive Director.

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s mission is to conserve land to provide safe drinking water, clean air, fresh local foods, and recreational opportunities for all North Carolina families to enjoy, for generations to come.  CTNC accomplishes its mission through three major initiatives: assisting 23 local land trusts, connecting people to nature, and protecting land along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  CTNC is one of fourteen local land trusts in North Carolina that have been accredited.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., awards the accreditation seal to community institutions that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Commission is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. See a complete list of all recently accredited land trusts online at http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/land-trust-locator. More information on the accreditation program is available on the Commission’s website, www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

 Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the place people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,200 member land trusts supported by more than 5 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operated several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at www.landtrustalliance.org.