LOCAL LAND TRUSTS RECEIVE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

Two local land trusts announced Wednesday that they have become accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a national program that recognizes 372 organizations for meeting quality standards and striving for continuous improvement.

The Avalonia Land Conservancy, a 50-year-old, Mystic-based organization that preserves more than 3,500 acres in six local towns, and the 30-year-old Westerly Land Trust, which protects 1,589 acres on 30 properties, were among 21 land trusts across the country to become newly accredited, according to a news release from the commission.

The commission, which is based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., said less than one-quarter of all the nation’s land trusts have met the accreditation standards.

Avalonia and the Westerly Land Trust join three other local land trusts that previously earned accreditation: the Lyme Land Conservation Trust, the Salem Land Trust and the Colchester Land Trust. In addition, two statewide groups, the Nature Conservancy and the Connecticut Farmland Trust, along with 17 other local land trusts elsewhere in the state, also previously became accredited.

“Accreditation demonstrates Avalonia’s commitment to the best practices and standards of land conservation in perpetuity throughout its mission area of southeastern Connecticut,” Dennis Main, Avalonia’s president, said in a news release. “This significantly raises the bar of our level of performance as we prepare to embark on significant new acquisition and fundraising activities.”

Avalonia protects properties in Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington, Preston and Stonington.

According to the commission, donors and landowners can have assurances that their bequests will be honored when they give to an accredited land trust.

“Our goal has always been to perform at the top tier and attaining accreditation demonstrates the Westerly Land Trust’s commitment to protecting natural places and working lands in our community forever,” said Kelly Presley, executive director of that trust. Covanta said in a news release. It also recycles about 9,000 tons of metal annually.