Decision taken to seek national accreditation
By Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo

The Norfolk Land Trust (NLT) is seeking hard-to-win accreditation from the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a program of the Land Trust Alliance.
According to a recent press release, NLT welcomes the accreditation process as an opportunity to review and fine tune its practices and procedures. If approved, NLT will join just six of 104 land trusts in the state that have been accredited through the Land Trust Alliance.
Salem Land Trust was the first Connecticut land trust to be accredited in 2009, Kent Land Trust was approved in 2010, followed by Joshuaís Tract Conservation and Historic Trust in the northeast corner and Redding Land Trust in 2011. The last two, Connecticut Farmland Trust and Greenwich Land Trust, were accredited last year. This status gives the trusts more credibility and puts them in a better position for acquisitions
In order to receive accreditation, land trusts must prove their integrity in long-term land protection. The Land Trust Alliance has established the following criteria for assessing applicants: responsible governance of the organization, protection of the public interest with sound and sustainable land transactions and stewardship, ethical operations, accountability to donors and the public, and compliance with all laws.
Public input is welcomed and written comments on NLTís ethical and technical operations may be submitted by June 2 to: Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 112 Spring St., Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments may also be faxed to 518-587-3183.