NEW YORK, NY (March 11, 2020)—Leading land conservation organization the Open Space Institute (OSI) has officially been awarded reaccreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. The announcement marks more than a decade that OSI, among the largest accredited conservation groups in the nation, has held the designation.
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands, forever. The renewal, a voluntary process, represents OSI’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the field of land conservation.
“Our LTAC reaccreditation validates OSI’s standing as a leading East Coast land trust and assures donors, partners and the communities where we work that our organization and our conservation practices are first-rate." - Kim Elliman, President and CEO of OSI
“Our success in achieving LTAC reaccreditation validates OSI’s standing as a leading East Coast land trust and assures donors, partners and the communities where we work that our organization and our conservation practices are first-rate,” said Kim Elliman, president and CEO of OSI. “We are proud of this distinction and look forward to maintaining our commitment to conservation excellence.”
This year’s renewal represents the second time that OSI has been reaccredited: the organization first earned its accreditation in 2008 and successfully completed renewal in 2014.
OSI protects scenic, natural and historic landscapes to ensure public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Working along the eastern coast of the United States from Maine to Florida, OSI has protected more than 2.2 million acres of land for people, for wildlife, forever.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, established in 2006, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and non-profit management experts from around the country and conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. As part of each organization’s pending application, the Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments.