The Land Trust for Central North Carolina has achieved land trust accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this elite group of land trusts operating at the highest levels of professionalism” noted Jason Walser, executive director of The Land Trust for Central NC. “Our land trust is a stronger organization today having gone through the rigorous accreditation program” he added.
The Land Trust for Central North Carolina operates in 10 counties within the lower section of the Yadkin and Pee Dee River Watershed. To date, it has conserved more than 24,000 acres of culturally and ecologically significantly landscapes.
The Land Trust for Central North Carolina is one of only 280 land trusts from across the country that has been awarded accreditation. 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.
“Accreditation provides the public with an assurance that, at the time of accreditation, land trusts meet high standards for quality and that the results of their conservation work are permanent” says Accreditation Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn.
According to the Land Trust Alliance, more than 1,700 land trusts have worked with willing landowners to protect more than 47 million acres of farms, forests, parks and places people care about across the United States.
Walser said, “While we recognize that most of our constituents don’t fully appreciate what accreditation of this organization means, I am very proud not just for my board and staff, but also for the citizens of this region. Some twenty years ago — well before I was here — grassroots organizations and citizens stepped up and advocated for an organization that would help them conserve places for future generations. Well, they not only started something special, but also fostered and supported it to become one of the most respected land conservation organizations in the Southeastern United States. All supporters of this organization should feel proud today for what they started back in 1995.”
The Land Trust for Central North Carolina is a nonprofit land conservation organization focusing on the most outstanding natural and cultural resources of Iredell, Davidson, Davie, Rowan, Cabarrus, Stanly, Richmond, Montgomery, Randolph and Anson counties.