| DECEMBER 10, 2011 -- The Land Trust Accreditation Commission is now accepting public comment on the Connecticut Farmland Trust’s (CFT) application for Accreditation. With an office in Hartford, CFT is Connecticut’s only statewide land trust and the only land trust dedicated to the protection of agricultural lands.
“Achieving Accreditation will show our partners and potential supporters that we meet national standards for protecting land and will make us one of only five Accredited land trusts in the state - and the only one with a statewide focus,” says Jim Gooch, Executive Director of the Connecticut Farmland Trust. “CFT is a very efficient and effective organization. For every dollar raised, we leverage 34 dollars in conservation and our administrative costs are only 13% of our budget. But having the wherewithal to steward this land and keep our promises forever means more than being good right now - it requires a strong foundation built on best practices.”
“CFT’s task is especially challenging,” notes Gooch. “We protect the land to ensure it will always be used for farming. People need to be able to do ‘stuff’ - till, plant, fertilize, harvest, sometimes even build - while at the same time we need to make sure the best soil is always protected. And not just for today’s farmer or tomorrow’s, but for the sake of the food we’ll need 100 years from now.”
There are over 120 land trusts in Connecticut; only four of them - all with a local focus - have attained accreditation. The Commission is accepting public input until from now until January 2, 2012 on how CFT complies with its national quality standards, which can be seen at www.LandTrustAccreditation.org. To learn more about the accreditation program or to submit a comment, you can contact the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 113 Spring Street, Ste. 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. |
