We’ve earned national land trust accreditation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In February 2024, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy became a nationally accredited land trust through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance), demonstrating our strong commitment to national standards of excellence in both land conservation and organizational governance.

 

Accreditation is a mark of distinction and only awarded to land trusts who have completed a very rigorous review process and successfully shown fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership, sound transactions, and lasting stewardship of the lands they conserve. The accreditation seal identifies land trusts who are accredited and meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust, and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent.

 

Excellence

Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices (the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust) and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them.

 

Trust

Nonprofit organizations, including land trusts, are increasingly called on to demonstrate their accountability to the public. Accredited land trusts have voluntarily submitted their organizations to an external, independent review of their practices. As a result, accreditation provides the public with the assurance that the land trust displaying the accreditation seal meets established standards for organizational quality and permanent land conservation.

 

Permanence

Land trusts help conserve land that is essential to our health and well-being. When land trusts agree to protect land for the benefit of the public, in most cases they do so by promising that the protection is forever. The accreditation program verifies that the land trust has the policies and programs in place to keep this promise, either by caring for the land itself or transferring the land to an entity that can.

 

We are elated to have earned this distinction and proud to display the accreditation seal as part of our continuing commitment to protecting the lands and waters of the Chautauqua region!