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    Boosted morale

    Posted 2016
    Source
    Land Trust Alliance
    Author
    Kirsten Ferguson
    Seven people stand smiling in front of a red wall.
    About This Document

    In 2007, during the year that Monadnock Conservancy applied in the pilot round for first-time accreditation, the New Hampshire land trust also completed its own record number of conservation projects.

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    For accreditation-related materials, please also consult the Land Trust Accreditation Commission website.

    In 2007, during the year that Monadnock Conservancy applied in the pilot round for first-time accreditation, the New Hampshire land trust also completed its own record number of conservation projects.

    Applying for accreditation is a time-consuming undertaking, as many land trusts learn, but it did help streamline the process of completing the easement projects, says executive director Ryan Owens. "In a way it made the project transaction process more time efficient," he says, because of the standards and practices that the group had put in place.

    It also helped with the stewardship component of their work, says stewardship director Emily Hague. "From a stewardship perspective, accreditation forced us to familiarize ourselves with our files and enabled us to be more rigorous with our monitoring practices."

    Accreditation also gave Monadnock Conservancy the opportunity to energize its base of volunteers who help with easement monitoring. "People can really relate to accreditation," says Hague. "People take pride in participating in the work of a land trust that has high standards. It adds to morale."

    "I remember recruiting [an employee] and the fact that we were accredited was very appealing to him," agrees Owens. "He would remark on how impressed he was in how streamlined and solid our practices were."