Lummi Island Heritage Trust Earns National Recognition
Accreditation Awarded by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
After an extensive evaluation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Lummi Island Heritage Trust has been awarded accredited status. The Heritage Trust is one of 230 land trusts, out of 1,700 nationally, that has been awarded accreditation since the fall of 2008.
“This is a proud moment in the life of the Heritage Trust, as we are recognized for our organizational strength and programs that help ensure the spectacular natural environment of Lummi Island will be preserved forever.” says Executive Director Rebecca Rettmer. “Our founders, board, staff, volunteers, members and landowners laid a strong foundation for the Trust over the past 15 years and we have built on that foundation to become what we are today.”
The Heritage Trust may now display the seal of accreditation, a mark of distinction in land conservation that lets the public know that the Heritage Trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of our organization, and that the systems and policies we use to protect land meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that our conservation efforts are permanent.
“Land trusts are gaining higher profiles with their work on behalf of their constituents and the seal of accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is a way to prove to their communities that land trusts are worthy of the significant public and private investment in land conservation,” noted Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth.
Since 1998, Lummi Island heritage Trust has protected 983 acres of land on Lummi Island. The Trust owns and manages three nature preserves and holds conservation easements on 16 private properties.
“Achieving accreditation has been a challenging undertaking that has unified our Board and made us a stronger organization,” says board member Peter Hodges. “Accreditation assures everyone who supports the Heritage Trust that the conservation work we’re doing today on Lummi Island is truly everlasting.”
About The Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, awards the accreditation seal to community institutions that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. More information is available on the Commission’s website, www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
About The Land Trust Alliance. The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America. It works to increase the pace and quality of conservation by advocating favorable tax policies, training land trusts in best practices and working to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats. The Alliance publishes Land Trust Standards and Practices. More information can be found atwww.landtrustalliance.org.
