The Boothbay Region Land Trust received an early anniversary gift last week. The trust, which is about to begin its 35th year in 2015, received official recognition as a nationally accredited land trust.

The BRLT began the accreditation process in 2009.

In April 2014, the trust sent in its application, which weighed 62-pounds, according to BRLT executive director Nick Ullo.

Over the past five years, the seven-person BRLT accreditation committee reviewed how the trust documented and researched past land transactions. Ullo believed the committee’s success should be attributed to the work of both the past and current memberships.

“I think it really speaks highly of the work done in the past,” Ullo said. “This is something really special and the hard work of the current and past board and staff made it all possible.”

BRLT treasurer Ham Meserve believed the accreditation process showed the organization was committed to following proper procedures. As the BRLT looks to solicit funds from its membership and other supporters, the accreditation designation is important achievement in reaching their future goals.

“It’s important to have a paper trail,” Meserve said. “This shows the BRLT is clearly documenting how we acquire property. And it’s something that our donors expects us to have.”

The BRLT conserves 1,700 acres of land, 31 miles of trails, and two working waterfronts in Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb. The BRLT is one of 90 land trusts in Maine. It is the 15th Maine land trust to receive the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation, according to Ullo.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. The commission’s purpose is to build and recognize strong land trusts. The commission also wants to foster public confidence in land conservation and ensure the long term protection of lands.

The Land Trust Alliance reports there are over 1,700 land trusts in the United States, with 280 being accredited.