North Central Conservancy Trust (NCCT) announced it is applying for national accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance. A public comment period is now open.
Established in 1994, NCCT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to conserve the natural heritage of Central Wisconsin through the protection of land. NCCT works with landowners to develop conservation easements that protect and preserve the ecological values of their properties. The organization operates in an eight-county service area that includes Lincoln, Taylor, Clark, Marathon, Wood, Portage, Adams, and Waushara Counties, and is based in Stevens Point.
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs.
This is NCCT’s first attempt at becoming accredited, though it has been a goal for the organization for a long time. There are currently more than 450 accredited land trusts across the United States.
“We are very excited to have embarked on the journey towards becoming a nationally accredited land trust,” said Chris Radford, Executive Director of NCCT. “This has been an organizational priority for NCCT, and the Board of Directors has directed resources to make this vision a reality. The rigorous accreditation process has already shown incredible value in ensuring our organization is living up to the highest standards of excellence while instilling confidence and trust with our members, donors, partners, and landowners.”
NCCT and the Commission invite public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how NCCT complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to [email protected]. Comments may also be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on NCCT’s application will be accepted until July 21, 2023. To learn more about NCCT, visit www.ncctwi.org or call 715-344-1910.