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Chestnut Hill Historical Society
(Washington, D.C.) – Chestnut Hill Historical Society earned national recognition for their land conservation work that meets national quality standards, upholds the public trust and ensures that conservation efforts are permanent. The accreditation seal is given by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. Chestnut Hill Historical Society is one of 135 land conservation groups in the country that have earned this important distinction to-date. Chestnut Hill Historical Society has made significant investments in its organization, even as they faced tough choices about how to allocate resources. “Through the accreditation process, land trusts take the time to conduct important planning and to make their operations more efficient and strategic,” said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. “Accreditation provides the public with an assurance that land trusts meet high standards for quality and that their conservation work is permanent,” she added. Conserving land is critical for clean air and drinking water, growing safe food, wildlife habitat and places for people to get outside and connect with nature. Across the country, local citizens and communities have come together to form land trusts to save the places they love.
“Congratulations to Chestnut Hill Historical Society for this achievement,” said Rand Wentworth, president of the Land Trust Alliance. “This is a significant milestone and proves that Chestnut Hill Historical Society has what it takes to earn the public’s trust, as well as the confidence of Congress and the IRS who have granted land conservation special tax incentives.” A complete list of accredited land trusts can be found on the Commission’s website, www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Land trusts applying for accreditation submit extensive documentation and make a significant commitment of time and money to participate. In a rigorous review process, the Commission examines each application, interviews the land trust and evaluates multiple sources of information, including comments from the public. About The Land Trust Accreditation Commission The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, awards the accreditation seal to community institutions that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Commission is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. More information is available on the Commission’s website, www.landtrustaccreditation.org. About The Land Trust Alliance The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America. It works to increase the pace and quality of conservation by advocating favorable tax policies, training land trusts in best practices and working to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats. 2007 marked the 25th anniversary of the Alliance. The Alliance publishes Land Trust Standards and Practices and provides financial and administrative support to the Commission. It has established an endowment to help ensure the success of the accreditation program and keep it affordable for land trusts of all sizes to participate in accreditation. More information can be found at www.landtrustalliance.org. |
Protecting “A Corner of Heaven” Other Easement Organizations Pennsylvania Land Trust Association Sample Easement Documents Model Conservation Easement at Pennsylvania Land Trust Association |
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Chestnut Hill Historical Society - 8708 Germantown Ave. - Philadelphia PA 19118 - 215 247-0417 - info@chhist.org
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“We are thrilled to have achieved national accreditation recognition, a distinction for both the Historical Society and the Chestnut Hill community. As one of the few urban land trusts in the country the Historical Society protects small parcels of land that contribute to the health of the Wissahickon Watershed and preserve our sense of open space. Easement Committee co-chair Karren DeSeve and Easement Manager Jennifer Garfield as well as the entire Board should be tremendously proud of their efforts and recognition of professionalism. I know I am,” said Jennifer S. Hawk, executive director. “Throughout the past two years, a team of board members, staff and legal counsel have been preparing and implementing new policies and standards which have strengthened our easement program and our organization as a whole. We are grateful to the Land Trust Alliance Commission for this opportunity, and and for the generous funding and support of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and for PECO's grant for the accreditation process through its Green Region Program.”