Sycamore Land Trust earns national recognition
Strong commitment to public trust and conservation excellence
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2019
Contact:
Abby Henkel, Communications Director, Sycamore Land Trust
abby@sycamorelandtrust.org
812-336-5382 ext. 101
Bloomington, Ind. – Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. We find common ground in a desire to care for the places we call home. Since 1990, Sycamore Land Trust has been doing just that for the people, plants, and wildlife across southern Indiana. Now Sycamore announces it has achieved national recognition, joining a network of more than 400 nonprofit accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.
Sycamore provided extensive documentation requiring years of preparation, and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation in order to achieve this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that Sycamore’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward approximately 20 million acres of land – the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined.
“Conservation is all about planning for a strong future, while working hard today to protect the land entrusted in our care,” explained John Lawrence, Executive Director for Sycamore Land Trust. “While Sycamore has always striven to uphold the highest standards of financial accountability and conservation ethics, this mark of accreditation takes us a huge step forward in demonstrating that commitment to our donors in an ongoing way.”
Sycamore protects nearly 10,000 acres of land across 17 counties in southern Indiana. This includes more than 1,500 acres along the Beanblossom Creek Bicentennial Conservation Area in Monroe County, and 1,043 acres at Columbia Mine Preserve in Pike and Gibson counties, managed as part of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. Focusing on important habitats and watersheds in the region, Sycamore takes care of the land under its protection through stewardship projects such as planting trees, removing invasive species, and building hiking trails for thousands of visitors every year. Seven full-time staff, dozens of volunteers, and more than 1,100 annual donors make this work possible.
“It is exciting to recognize Sycamore Land Trust with this national mark of distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, 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.”
Sycamore 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 Sycamore Land Trust
Founded in 1990, Sycamore Land Trust protects land and connects people to nature in 26 counties in southern Indiana. The organization protects and actively stewards 9,773 acres (and growing) of forests, wetlands, prairies, and critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. Sycamore maintains 16 public nature preserves for hiking, bird watching, and general enjoyment of nature, and provides an environmental education program that connects more than 6,800 people of all ages each year to southern Indiana’s natural world through classroom visits, guided hikes, field trips, and other hands-on activities. Sycamore’s work is made possible by more than 1,100 members across the region. www.sycamorelandtrust.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.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents 1,000 member land trusts supported by more than 200,000 volunteers and 4.6 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices.
The Alliance’s leadership serves the entire land trust community—our work in the nation’s capital represents the policy priorities of land conservationists from every state; our education programs improve and empower land trusts from Maine to Alaska; and our comprehensive vision for the future of land conservation includes new partners, new programs and new priorities. Connect with us online at www.landtrustalliance.org.
