The Land Trust for Tennessee is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation in the inaugural year of the national Land Trust Accreditation Program.  Overseeing the program is the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent agency of the Land Trust Alliance who is responsible for ensuring the highest level of accountability for the accreditation process.  The program is designed to strengthen management of conservation land transactions and to promote public confidence in land trusts.

The Accreditation Commission will perform an extensive review of our 80-page application covering the twelve Standards (Indicator Practices) that are part of the Land Trust Alliance's Standards and Practices.  Standards 1-7 focus on organizational strength and capacity, and standards 8-12 focus on land transactions.  The standards include:

• Standard 1: Mission
• Standard 2: Compliance with Laws
• Standard 3: Board Accountability
• Standard 4: Conflicts of Interest
• Standard 5: Fundraising
• Standard 6: Financial and Asset Management
• Standard 7: Volunteers, Staff and Consultants
• Standard 8: Evaluating and Selecting Conservation Projects
• Standard 9: Ensuring Sound Transactions
• Standard 10: Tax Benefits
• Standard 11: Conservation Easement Stewardship
• Standard 12: Fee Land Stewardship

A public comment period is now open; and the Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications.  Comments must relate to how The Land Trust for Tennessee complies with national quality standards.  These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust.  For a full description of the standards  and indicator practices, see www.landtrustaccreditation.org/getting-accredited/2008-indicator-practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/.  A simple form for submitting comments is on the Commission's website.  Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Comments on The Land Trust for Tennessee's application will be most useful by December 28, 2008.