Triangle Land Conservancy Earns National Recognition
Accreditation Promotes Public Trust, Ensures Permanence
Durham, NC (August 17, 2016) – Triangle Land Conservancy announced today that it has achieved accreditation – a mark of distinction in land conservation. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that Triangle Land Conservancy’s lands will be protected forever.
Almost 15 million acres of farms, forests and natural areas vital to healthy communities – an area about the size of the state of West Virginia – are permanently conserved by an accredited land trust.
“Accreditation demonstrates Triangle Land Conservancy’s commitment to permanent land conservation and is official recognition of the good work that so many TLC staff, board members, volunteers and supporters have done for the past 33 years” said Sandy Sweitzer, Executive Director. “We’re a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program and this strength will allow us to help more landowners and communities achieve our shared conservation goals to make the Triangle a great place to live, work and play.”
Triangle Land Conservancy strives to create a healthier and more vibrant Triangle region by safeguarding clean water, protecting natural habitats, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people with nature through land protection and stewardship, catalyzing community action, and collaboration. Since 1983, Triangle Land Conservancy has protected nearly 18,000 acres in 166 places.
Triangle Land Conservancy was among 38 land trusts across the United States to achieve accreditation or to have accreditation renewed in August. Triangle Land Conservancy joins the more than 350 accredited land trusts that demonstrate their commitment to professional excellence through accreditation, helping to maintain the public’s trust in their work.
“It is exciting to recognize Triangle Land Conservancy with this distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Commission. “Accredited land trusts stand together, united behind strong ethical standards ensuring the places people love will be conserved forever. This network of land trusts has demonstrated fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership and lasting stewardship of conservation land.”
Each accredited land trusts meets extensive documentation requirements and undergoes a comprehensive review as part of its accreditation application. The process is rigorous and strengthens land trusts so they can help landowners and communities achieve their goals.
About Triangle Land Conservancy
Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) is a nonprofit seeking to conserve the wild and working lands in the Triangle that make it a great place to live, work, and play. Since 1983, TLC has protected nearly 18,000 acres in 166 places.
Quality of life is a key reason that families, employers, employees, and retirees choose the Triangle as their home. The region will continue to develop as an estimated 1.3 million people move into our six-county service area within the next three decades.
TLC is committed to working with individuals, businesses, and government partners to balance this growth with open space preservation for the long-term sustainability and health of our local communities. We are also dedicated to the stewardship of our conserved lands in perpetuity, forever protecting the public benefits they provide, including clean water, natural habitats, farms and food, and access to nature. For more, visit www.triangleland.org.
About the 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.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents more than 1,100 member land trusts supported by more than 100,000 volunteers and 5 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C. and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at www.landtrustalliance.org.
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