New River Land Trust Earns National Recognition
Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence
Blacksburg, VA, Friday August 16, 2024
One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the natural spaces they love. Since 2002, New River Land Trust has been doing just that for the people of the New River region. New River Land Trust has announced it has renewed its land trust accreditation - proving once again that, as part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to conservation excellence.
"Renewing our accreditation shows New River Land Trust’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation,” said John Eustis, Executive Director. "We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our strength means special places will be protected forever, making the New River region an even greater place for now and in the future."
New River Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that New River Land Trust’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts now steward over 20 million acres - the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
"We are proud to recognize New River Land Trust's continued commitment to conservation excellence," said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. "The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction that stands for excellence, trust and permanence. New River Land Trust is part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts that are united by their strong ethical practices. Accredited land trusts inspire confidence and respect among their peers and in their communities."
New River Land Trust is one of 1,281 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance's most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
About Land Trust Accreditation Commission
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. 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. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.