SJPT staff and board president Barbara Rosenkotter (left) celebrate renewed accreditation after recognition ceremony in Portland | Kevin Berger
One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the natural spaces they love. Since 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) has been doing just that for the people of the San Juan Islands. This month, the Preservation Trust has announced it has again renewed its land trust accreditation, which it originally earned in 2012 and renewed for the first time in 2017. SJPT has proven once again that, as part of a network of more than 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to conservation excellence.
We’re proud to have earned the seal of land trust excellence (again)!
“Renewing our accreditation for another five years shows the Preservation Trust’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation in the San Juan Islands,” said SJPT Executive Director Angela Anderson. “We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation process, now for the third time. Our strength means special places—such as Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island, Mount Grant on San Juan Island, and nearly 300 additional private and public properties on 22 islands—will be protected forever, making our uniquely beautiful archipelago an even greater place for now and in the future.”
The Preservation Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that SJPT’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts now steward over 20 million acres—an area the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades, and Yosemite National Parks combined.
“We are proud to recognize the San Juan Preservation Trust’s continued commitment to conservation excellence,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction that stands for excellence, trust, and permanence. The Preservation Trust is part of a network of more than 450 accredited land trusts that are united by their strong ethical practices. Accredited land trusts inspire confidence and respect among their peers and in their communities.”
The Preservation 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 can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.