Conservation Excellence
A strong commitment to public trust and conservation excellence…
Chico, California (Aug. 20, 2020) – One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1990, the Northern California Regional Land Trust has been doing just that. Today, the organization announced that it has renewed its land trust accreditation – proving once again that, as part of a network of over 400 accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
“Renewing our accreditation shows the Northern California Regional Land Trust’s ongoing commitment to land conservation in Butte, Glenn, and Tehama County,” said Tod Kimmelshue, President of the Land Trust’s Board of Directors. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our strength means that special places like lower Deer Creek Falls and the historic Berkeley Olive Grove will be protected forever, preserving the natural beauty and agricultural diversity of this area for our children and grandchildren.”
The Northern California Regional Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that the trust’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts currently steward almost 20 million acres – the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined.
The Northern California Regional Land Trust now owns 600 acres and protects over 29,000 acres in conservation easements. Conservation easements shelter farms, ranches, and wild lands from current and future development threats, preserving scenic vistas and rich agricultural resources in the Sacramento River Valley and Sierra foothills. Through this legal process, the Land Trust acquires most of the development rights, allowing landowners to generate capital on their investment while leaving a unique legacy for their families and the North State. By ensuring that their land will be managed according to a carefully crafted stewardship plan in perpetuity, property owners offer future generations the chance to experience open spaces, natural wildlife habitats, locally produced food, and a rural lifestyle.
“It is exciting to recognize the Northern California Regional Land Trust’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
The Northern California Regional Land Trust is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
About the Northern California Regional Land Trust
The Northern California Regional Land Trust is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that assists landowners and public agencies in the voluntary protection and conservation of agricultural land, open space, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources. Working across Butte, Glenn, and Tehama Counties, we are dedicated to responsibly stewarding natural landscapes and our region’s deeply rooted farming and ranching heritage for generations to come. Board of Directors members include Tod Kimmelshue, President, and Jerry Armour, Susan Price, Bert Owens, and Ross Turner. For more information about our work, how you can support regional conservation, or to discuss your own estate planning and land protection goals, please contact us at [email protected] or (530) 894-7738.
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.
By Emily Miranda
Photo courtesy of Northern California Regional Land Trust
