Since 2008, Kingston Land Trust, has been permanently protecting land for the people of Kingston, and the Towns of Hurley and Ulster. Now the KLT has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.
“Accreditation demonstrates Kingston Land Trust’s commitment to permanent land conservation in the Lower Hudson Valley,” said Michael Dillinger, KLT Board Chair. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the LTA’s rigorous accreditation program.” The KLT provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that the KLT’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres of land, the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
Accreditation also signifies the KLT’s commitment to ethical and sound organizational conduct. The land trust has been a pioneering organization in hands-on, community-driven land conservation. Through strategic land protection in vulnerable areas, biodiversity-centered land stewardship, and diverse programming and land development such as the Land In Black Hands land base and Spanish language series Comida y Tierra, the KLT demonstrates ongoing dedication to the community and to centering and uplifting the voices of those who have been historically disenfranchised from land. The KLT has also partnered on a wide variety of essential efforts such as bike and pedestrian travel with the Kingston Greenline, affordable housing with TapRoot Community Land Trust, and conservation funding with the Community Preservation Fund.
“It is exciting to recognize the Kingston Land Trust with this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.” The Kingston Land Trust is one of 1,363 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 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.