body

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust (GPMCT), the land trust serving Bucksport, Orland, Dedham and Verona Island and owner of the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands, is pleased to announce that it is applying for national accreditation.

The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs.

According to GPMCT Executive Director Cheri Domina, “By meeting the accreditation requirements, we are assuring our communities that we are operating in an ethical manner and according to best practices. It will give landowners, donors, and our neighbors a sense of confidence in GPMCT’s ability to serve its mission of conserving land in northwest Hancock County.”

The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how GPMCT complies with national quality standards addressing the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to [email protected]. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: 112 Spring St., Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY  12866, (fax) 518-587-3183.

Comments on GPMCT’s application will be most useful by October 27, 2013.