In 2009 the Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) undertook a major review of its policies and procedures. The aim was to bring BRLT in compliance with 88 best-practice standards promulgated by the Land Trust Alliance (LTA), the private national oversight organization for land trusts. An equivalent to LTA would be the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), which voluntarily accredits private schools to assure quality, or other organizations that accredit colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions.

Today, five years later, after extensive self-evaluation and guidance by outside land trust experts, BRLT is now applying to LTA for accreditation. This will entail examination and review by LTA specialists throughout the rest of 2014 with accreditation following, if BRLT passes muster, next winter.

One of BRLT’s final steps in applying is to ask the public to send any comments they might have on BRLT, its aims, its conduct or its activities directly to the Land Trust Alliance. A legal notice with instructions appears in this paper.

What does “accreditation” mean? Board President Jim Dun said this week, “It will signal to our board, staff and 800 members, to our supporters and donors, to our peer land trusts, to local and state government and to the public that we are conducting ourselves professionally and ethically to the exceptionally high standards demanded by the LTA.”

He also noted that being accredited has become increasingly of interest to foundations and major donors, and that 254 land trusts have been accredited thus far in the United States, of which 11 are in Maine.