National Organization Recognizes SELT for Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence
The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT) is excited to announce it has renewed its land trust accreditation for a third consecutive term, joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the country.
“We are proud to recognize SELT’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. SELT is part of a network of over 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.”
“Renewing our accreditation shows SELT’s continued commitment to permanent land conservation, good governance, and sound fiscal management,” said Brian Hart, SELT’s Executive Director. “We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process for a third consecutive term. Accreditation comes at a perfect time for SELT as we accelerate our pace of conservation to protect lands for clean water, wildlife habitat, local farms, and outdoor recreation.”
SELT has protected over 27,000 acres of open spaces for clean water, thriving wildlife, public recreation, healthy forests, and productive farms. SELT is known for its publicly accessible lands including iconic landscapes such as the 1,700-acre Stonehouse Forest in Barrington and the 2,600-acre Birch Ridge Community Forest in New Durham. Through conservation easements, SELT has helped protect the public water supplies for Rochester, Durham, Auburn, and Portsmouth, as well as active farms in the region such as Barker’s Farm in Stratham and Scrutons Dairy in Farmington. I
First awarded accreditation in 2013 and then a second term in 2018, SELT provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation to earn accreditation renewal for a third term through March 2029. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence in SELT’s procedures and approach to conservation and stewardship.
SELT 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.
About SELT
SELT is a nonprofit land trust with a mission to protect and sustain the significant lands in our communities for clean water, fresh food, outdoor recreation, healthy forests, and wildlife. Since 1980, the Southeast Land Trust has worked in 52 communities of southeastern New Hampshire to conserve more than 27,000 acres of land through conservation agreements and ownerships. SELT is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information, visit seltnh.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.