Eastern Sierra Land Trust Earns National Recognition
Accreditation Promotes Public Trust, Ensures Permanence
Now in its 21st year protecting critical wildlife habitat, natural and working lands, and scenic open spaces, local non-profit Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) today announced it has achieved renewed accreditation – a mark of great distinction in land conservation.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded ESLT this renewed accreditation, the
organization’s second renewal since initially earning accreditation in 2011, demonstrating
its confidence that Eastern Sierra Land Trust’s conserved lands will continue to be
protected forever.
Each accredited land trust must apply for renewal every five years and undergoes a
comprehensive third-party review for sound financial practices, ethical conduct,
responsible governance, sound transactions, and lasting land stewardship as part of its
renewal process. Successfully completing the accreditation renewal process signifies that
Eastern Sierra Land Trust’s work meets the highest national standards for excellence and
permanence.
“Our renewed accreditation means that ESLT is doing an outstanding job. Landowners
can be assured that when we agree to protect their lands forever, we will do it fairly and
effectively,” said Marie Patrick, ESLT Board Chair.
“The Land Trust Accreditation Commission is tough,” reflected ESLT Board Secretary
Randy Keller, who played a key role with other ESLT board members, in preparing the
Land Trust for renewed accreditation. “It’s their job to verify that land trusts across the
country are ethical and deliver on their duty to protect conserved lands in perpetuity.”
Eastern Sierra Land Trust partners with willing landowners who want to ensure that their
land will be permanently protected from development, and will remain open for wildlife
and future generations. Since its founding in 2001, ESLT has conserved nearly 21,900
acres: from a mule deer migration corridor in Swall Meadows, to the Mono Basin’s
iconic Conway Ranch, to large swathes of working lands in Bridgeport Valley – and
much more.
ESLT’s conservation goals reach beyond the legal land protection agreements they
develop with landowners. “These Eastern Sierra lands – the past and present homelands of
California’s Tribes and Native peoples – are home to countless species of plants and
wildlife, and generations have enjoyed them as places to live and find inspiration.
Protecting land is one of our most effective tools to combat climate change while
honoring the history and people of this region,” shared ESLT’s Executive Director/CEO,
Kay Ogden.
Eastern Sierra Land Trust was among 32 land trusts across the United States to achieve
accreditation or to have accreditation renewed in August. ESLT continues to join the
more than 450 accredited land trusts that demonstrate their commitment to professional
excellence through accreditation, helping to maintain the public’s trust in their work.
“It is exciting to recognize Eastern Sierra Land Trust continued commitment to national
standards by renewing this national mark of distinction.” said Melissa Kalvestrand,
Executive Director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
Almost 20 million acres of farms, ranches, forests, and natural areas vital to healthy
communities – an area about the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Rhode Island combined – are permanently conserved by accredited land
trusts across the country.
Eastern Sierra Land Trust works with willing landowners to protect vital lands in the
Eastern Sierra region for their scenic, agricultural, natural, recreational, historical, and
watershed values. To learn more about ESLT’s work and how to get involved, visit www.eslt.org.
About the Land Trust Accreditation Commission
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and
ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that
meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission,
established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by
a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For
more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
