Keeping the Bar High with Land Trust Accreditation

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of its accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission for the third time. Approved for accreditation in July 2009, the Commission recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting land for open space, recreation, watershed protection, and farmland.

The Land Conservancy is renewing its accreditation to continue “to show our members, partners, supporters, and landowners that as a nonprofit land trust organization we act in a transparent manner with the highest ethical and professional standards,” explained Andy Dietz, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “The Land Conservancy is taking this step to encourage others to become accredited and ensure that only the highest standards are being used for all land preservation transactions in New Jersey.”

“As an accredited land trust, The Land Conservancy upholds the highest professional standards for acquiring and preserving land,” states David Epstein, president of the organization. “We are part of a nationwide effort by non-profit land trust organizations to ensure land is permanently protected to leave a legacy of clean water, clean air, and healthy places to work, live, and play.”

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was created as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance and conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. This review is based upon the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards and Practices. These practices guide land trust organizations to ensure that they operate in an ethical, legal, and technically sound manner, and helps to ensure the long-term protection of land in the public interest.

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how The Land Conservancy of New Jersey complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. Click here for the full list of standards. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments; 518-587-3183 (fax) or 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on The Land Conservancy’s application are due by March 22, 2026.