Press Release
Riverlink
In 2015, we are submitting our application to become an Accredited Land Trust. RiverLink has worked to revitalize and protect the French Broad River and its watershed the past 28 years utilizing conservation and recreation (along with other important tools) easements to protect water quality, wildlife, and preserve natural history.
Becoming an Accredited Land Trust allows us to join thousands of land trusts across the country in the long-term protection of the land in the public interest. It increases public awareness of and confidence in land conservation. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. RiverLink Inc. is pleased to announce it is applying for accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
One of the ways we protect land is through the FOREVER OPTION, RiverLink’s conservation easement program. Currently RiverLink holds easement over 100 acres, and an additional 20 acres of conservation land. Conservation easements are an increasingly popular tool to protect land, habitat, and water quality, as well as preserve our mountain heritage. RiverLink’s FOREVER OPTION easements, like all easements, are voluntary legal agreements between a landowner and RiverLink which permanently define an agreed upon set of uses for a specific property.
The FOREVER OPTION targets riparian and steep slope areas of our mountain region. Our goal is to work with willing landowners to protect land, streams, and water quality FOREVER. Conservation easements are strictly voluntary and are tailored to both the needs of the land and the landowner’s desired use of that land. The donor of an easement always retains title to the property, and agreements never involve conditions that have not been approved by the landowner.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. Accreditation provides public recognition of land trusts that are engaged in the long-term protection of the land in the public interest. It increases public awareness of, and confidence in, land trusts and land conservation. Land trusts use the accreditation application process as a way to fine-tune their policies and streamline their operations. The Commission conducts an extensive review of the application and grants accreditation – and the right to use the accreditation seal – to land trusts that meet the practices.
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how RiverLink Inc. complies with national quality standards. These standards address 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 info@landtrustaccreditation.org.
Comments may also be faxed or mailed to:
Land Trust Accreditation Commission
Attn:Public Comments:
36 Phila Street, Suite 2,
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.Fax: 518-587-3183
Comments on RiverLink’s application will be most useful by May 22, 2015.
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