Commission Accepts All 2027 First-Time Registrants; No Waitlist
Six organizations completed the lottery registration for 2027, and we are pleased to announce we have accepted all as first-time applicants for 2027. Here is the list of first-time applicants for 2027, including those waitlisted from 2026.
Alaska Farmland Trust
Aspetuck Land Trust (NH)
Grassland Bird Trust (NY)
Hanover Conservancy (NH)
Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia (GA)
Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (CA)
South Carolina Farm Bureau Land Trust
Western Foothills Land Trust (ME)
Zion Forever Project (UT)
Welcome to Our New Requirements Manager
We are excited to welcome our new Requirements Manager, Emily R H Bender. Emily comes to the Commission after previously working as the Assistant Director of the Blue Ridge, Central Virginia, and Southern Virginia Land Conservancies and as the Director of Land Protection at Shenandoah Valley Conservancy. Emily will be responsible for managing all aspects of the accreditation requirements that are used to evaluate land trusts and serve as a primary evaluator of applications for accreditation.
Emily shares what brought her to land conservation and what continues to inspire her work:
I have always been connected to the outdoors—first playing outside, then attending and working at a summer camp where I spent hours each day in nature. This inspired me to pursue an education in environmental science so that I could keep "playing outside" in my professional life. My introduction to the land trust community was through an internship with the Valley Conservation Council (now the Shenandoah Valley Conservancy), which later became a full-time position, and I’ve continued working with land trusts ever since. The choice to continue working in land conservation has been an easy one. I am impressed by the commitment of landowners and communities who have long relationships with the land and are willing to protect it. I am continually honored to play a small part in moving the needle on conservation efforts.
My connection to the outdoors continues outside of work, whether it’s floating down a river on my paddleboard or hiking to a swimming hole. My newest outdoor hobby? Finding a quiet campsite along a creek to sit and read a good book.
Rally: The National Land Conservation Conference is less than a month away! Come learn more about accreditation and speak directly with Commission Staff at our exhibition booth or at one of our workshops.
Get Ready for Your Renewal of Accreditation (Saturday, Sept. 19 10:30 AM– 12:00 PM) will walk participants through the renewal process, timing, available resources, and practical steps for organizing application materials. Attendees will leave with the tools needed to create a renewal plan, regardless of where they are in the process.
For those with some familiarity with accreditation, Put Your Best Foot Forward: Tips and Tools for Understanding the Accreditation Requirements and Preparing Your Strongest Application (Saturday, Sept. 19 1:30 PM– 3:00 PM) offers a deeper look at how applications are reviewed and how to avoid common pitfalls. Participants will gain insights into the accreditation requirements, documentation expectations, and time-saving strategies to help prepare a strong application.
Land Trust Alliance 1250 H St. NW, Suite 600 Washington, District of Columbia, 20005, United States
The mission of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission is to inspire excellence, promote public trust and ensure permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing land trust organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and that strive for continuous improvement.
Land Trust Accreditation Commission, 36 Phila St, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
