The Buzzards Bay Coalition is applying for renewal of its existing accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a program that recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for forever protecting important natural places and working lands. A public comment period is now open.

Protecting land is an integral part of the Coalition’s work to save Buzzards Bay. Since 1998, the Coalition has permanently protected more than 10,000 acres of land across the Buzzards Bay watershed, a 432-square-mile area from Little Compton to the Elizabeth Islands. Conserving forests, wetlands, and river corridors helps protect clean water for drinking, swimming, and fishing for future generations.

In 2014, the Coalition received accreditation from the Land Trust Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, and in 2019 their status was renewed after an in-depth assessment by the independent commission. This is the highest recognition that a land trust can receive. This reaccreditation process will involve another extensive review of the Coalition’s policies and programs.

“We are participating in this process to assure the individuals, organizations and communities we work with that we implement land conservation activities using the highest standards of professional practice,” said Brendan Annett, Vice President of Watershed Protection with the Buzzards Bay Coalition. “We look forward to working with the Accreditation Commission on our assessment, and we invite the public’s participation.”

The commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how the Buzzards Bay Coalition complies with national quality standards for the ethical and technical operations of a land trust. For the full list of standards, please visit https://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-elements.

To learn more about the accreditation program and submit a comment, visit https://www.landtrustaccreditation.org or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org.

Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila St, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s application will be most useful by April 19.