NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
DLC Re-Accredited by LTA
Douglas Land Conservancy has applied for and received Accreditation renewal with the Land Trust Alliance (LTA). LTA is recognized as the national organization leading the land conservation community. It has an accreditation program that measures the soundness of organizations and requires those organizations to follow a set of standards and practices that will ensure excellence.
The land trust Accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for sound business practices and organizational integrity. Part of this process is asking for feedback from our community and stakeholders.
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how DLC complies with national quality standards.
These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards go to www.landtrustaccreditation.org/getting-accredited/2008-indicatorpractices. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit, www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring St., Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. The deadline for comments is April 30, 2023.
History of DLC Accreditation
In 2012 Douglas Land Conservancy achieved added credibility by receiving accreditation from the Land Trust AccreditationCommission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.
“Gaining accreditation is a milestone for Douglas Land Conservancy,” said Richard Bangs, DLC ex-Board President.
“The adherence to Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and the months and months of preparing the accreditation application have made DLC a stronger and more viable organization now and for the long term,” Bangs said.
“Having that seal of approval from the Accreditation Commission demonstrates that DLC operates under the most professional and demanding standards in the industry. We are very pleased to become part of the accredited team of land trusts that LTA guides to preserve our open spaces and natural wonders.”
DLC is a non-profit land trust based in Castle Rock. It protects and conserves wildlife habitat, scenic views and open space along the central Front Range, including Douglas County and surrounding areas.
DLC was re-accredited in August of 2018.
“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.”
Each accredited land trust submitted extensive documentation and underwent a rigorous review.
“Through accreditation land trusts conduct important planning and make their operations more efficient and strategic,” said Van Ryn.“Accredited organizations have engaged and trained citizen conservation leaders and improved systems for ensuring that their conservation work is permanent.”
About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
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, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. See a complete list of all 21 recently accredited land trusts online at http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/newsroom/press-releases. More information on the accreditation program is available on the Commission’s website, www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
About The Land Trust Alliance
The Land Trust Alliance, of which Douglas Land Conservancy is a member, is a national conservation group that works to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America. It advocates favorable tax policies, training land trusts in best practices and works to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats. It has established an endowment to help ensure the success of the accreditation program and keep it affordable for land trusts of all sizes to participate in accreditation. More information can be found at www.landtrustalliance.org.