FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Deschutes Basin Land Trust selected for National Accreditation program

Program recognizes land trusts that meet national standards for protecting important natural areas and working lands forever.

Deschutes Basin Land Trust has been selected to participate in a new national accreditation program for land conservation organizations, also known as land trusts. The program will recognize land trusts that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural areas and working lands forever.

To demonstrate publicly its commitment to high standards, Deschutes Basin Land Trust applied to participate in the accreditation program. The accreditation program will require Deschutes Basin Land Trust to undergo a formal audit of its operations. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission will conduct an independent audit and award an accreditation seal to approved land trusts nationwide. It will also provide assurance that conservation efforts are meeting national standards for excellence, upholding public trust and protecting lands permanently. Eugene’s McKenzie River Trust has also been selected for the program.

The Land Trust’s Executive Director Brad Chalfant noted: “In an era of increasing scrutiny of corporations and government, nonprofits should also be accountable to the public. Deschutes Basin Land Trust has experienced tremendous public support for its work and wants to continue to earn the community’s confidence. We want to show publicly that we’re operating transparently and to the highest professional standards. Accreditation requires a great deal of accountability and not every land trust will qualify.”

Land trusts have been leading efforts to work cooperatively with private landowners to conserve land for wildlife, agriculture, recreation and scenic views. Nearly 1,700 land trusts have protected more than 11.9 million acres of land. With the number, size and complexity of land conservation efforts growing exponentially, land trusts have created an independent system to audit its own organizations. For information on land trust accreditation visit the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

The Deschutes Basin Land Trust works cooperatively with private landowners and local communities to conserve and restore the lands and streams of the Deschutes Basin. Since 1995, the Land Trust has protected more than 6,700 acres.

The Deschutes Basin Land Trust - “Lands in Trust, Protected Forever”

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