Blue Mountain Land Trust receives accreditation for the third time.
Accreditation denotes a strong commitment to public trust and conservation excellence
Walla Walla, WA — Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT) has successfully completed the Land Trust Accreditation Commission’s rigorous review process, earning accreditation for the third time. Since 1999, BMLT has worked to protect the lands and waters of the Blue Mountain region for people, agriculture, and wildlife. Accreditation confirms that BMLT continues to meet the highest national standards for private land conservation, stewardship, and organizational practices. As part of a network of more than 470 accredited land trusts nationwide, BMLT remains committed to protecting land, forever.
“BMLT is proud to be part of the communities of southeast Washington and Eastern Oregon and takes our promise of protecting lands and water seriously,” said Amanda Martino, BMLT executive director. “The accreditation process verifies that we have demonstrated fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership, sound transactions and lasting stewardship. Our ongoing commitment to renewing our accreditation means we continually strengthen our organization and are ready to meet challenges so that special places will be protected now and for future generations.”
BMLT 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 BMLT’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts now steward more than 50 million acres, approximately 23 times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
BMLT works to protect and care for the lands and waters that sustain our region, from working farms to wildlife habitat and recreation trails. Since our founding in 1999, we have protected over 24,294 acres of land and more than 48 miles of rivers and streams. Recent projects include the protection of Welcome Table Farm and Hayshaker Farm in Walla Walla County, keeping small farms viable and productive for future generations. BMLT also protected a river restoration site at the confluence of the Umatilla River and Birch Creek, completed by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), improving fish habitat and water quality in a critical watershed. These efforts build on decades of conservation work across southeast Washington and Eastern Oregon. Together with landowners and community partners, BMLT helps ensure these places remain cared for and accessible into the future.
“The role of renewing accreditation has always been to maintain public trust in the accreditation seal by ensuring accredited land trusts continue to meet national standards,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the commission. “BMLT has been part of this program for more than 10 years, and we are proud to recognize its commitment to conservation excellence.”
A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
ABOUT BLUE MOUNTAIN LAND TRUST:
Blue Mountain Land Trust is a nationally accredited nonprofit land trust working in southeast Washington and Eastern Oregon. Our mission is to protect the lands and waters of the Blue Mountain region for people, agriculture, and wildlife. Since our founding in 1999, we have protected over 24,294 acres of land and more than 48 miles of rivers and streams. We work collaboratively and strategically to conserve our region’s natural resources, build relationships, and create meaningful opportunities to connect with the land and its important resources.
Our goals: protect and restore farms, ranches, rivers, and wildlife habitat, connect communities to nature, improve access to outdoor recreation through trail maintenance, and expand environmental education offerings for all children and families. For more information, visit www.bmlt.org
About Land Trust Accreditation Commission
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alyssa Martinez Neumann
Communications & Marketing Director, Blue Mountain Land Trust
alyssa@bmlt.org | (509) 525-3136