Charleston, SC – One thing uniting us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the natural spaces they love. Since 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust has been doing just that for the people of South Carolina’s coastal communities. Now, Lowcountry Land Trust has announced it has renewed its land trust accreditation status – proving once again that it is committed to conservation excellence as part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation.
“Renewing our accreditation shows Lowcountry Land Trust’s ongoing commitment to excellence and integrity,” said Ashley Demosthenes, President & CEO. “We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our organizational strength means that every property we have our fingerprints on will stand the test of time and represent perpetual conservation at its best.”
Lowcountry Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation before achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that Lowcountry Land Trust’s lands are protected forever. Accredited land trusts cumulatively steward over 20 million acres – which is approximately the size of the state of South Carolina.
Lowcountry Land Trust—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—permanently protects land throughout coastal South Carolina that is foundational to the area’s coastal ecosystem and residents’ quality of life. Having protected over 162,000 acres of land since its founding in 1986, Lowcountry Land Trust is one of the largest local land trusts in the United States.
“We are proud to recognize Lowcountry Land Trust’s continued commitment to conservation excellence,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. “The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction that stands for excellence, trust, and permanence. Lowcountry Land Trust is part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts united by their strong ethical practices. Accredited land trusts inspire confidence and respect among their peers and communities.”
Lowcountry Land Trust is one of 1,281 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 are available at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
