Bedford Hills, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT) announced it has earned reaccreditation from the Land Trust Alliance’s Land Trust Accreditation Commission, reaffirming the organization’s standing among a select group of land trusts nationwide that meet the most rigorous standards for excellence, accountability, and the permanent conservation of land.

Westchester Land Trust was among the first land trusts in the country to achieve accreditation when the program debuted in 2008. With each subsequent renewal, WLT has demonstrated its continued commitment to upholding national quality standards for sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship ensuring that conserved lands are protected not just for today, but forever.

This reaccreditation follows a comprehensive, multi-year review assessing WLT’s processes, policies, and procedures that support its regional conservation activities. The distinction signals to landowners, community leaders, and supporters that WLT operates with the highest level of integrity and has the capacity to safeguard land in perpetuity.

“Reaccreditation is more than a milestone, it’s a promise,” said Kara Whelan, President of Westchester Land Trust. “For nearly two decades, this designation has reflected the trust placed in us by our community. When a landowner partners with us, or a supporter invests in this work, they are helping ensure that these landscapes—our forests, our water, our shared spaces—are cared for and protected for generations to come. That permanence is rooted in hope, and in a deep responsibility to the future.”

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was established in 2006 as an independent program to verify that land trusts across the country meet national quality standards. Accredited organizations must demonstrate sound finances, ethical operations, responsible governance, and the ability to steward conserved lands forever. Today, 480 land trusts nationwide out of 1,281 groups have achieved accreditation, helping to build public confidence in land conservation and ensure lasting impact. Together, land trusts have protected more than 61 million acres of land in the US.

Since its last reaccreditation, Westchester Land Trust has continued to expand its impact across the region. The organization has conserved nearly 1,000 additional acres, including its largest acquisition to date, Lodestone Preserve in Southeast. WLT has also expanded its work in urban communities, advanced forest health and pollinator habitat initiatives to restore ecological resilience, and sustained its food pantry garden program, which grows and donates more than 10,000 servings of fresh produce annually to local families.

WLT’s land protection efforts help protect critical drinking water resources that serve more than nine million people across New York City and Westchester County, while also safeguarding wildlife habitat, strengthening climate resilience, and expanding access to nature.

“Land conservation is a long-term commitment that requires both vision and discipline,” said Janelle Robbins, Vice President of Conservation at WLT. “This reaccreditation reflects the strength of our work at every level, from the legal protections that secure land permanently to the hands-on stewardship that sustains these ecosystems over time. It’s how we ensure that every acre we protect continues to provide real benefits for clean water and biodiversity, and for the communities who depend on these landscapes every day.”

As one of the first accredited land trusts in the nation, WLT continues to serve as a trusted partner to landowners, municipalities, and funders working to address the growing pressures of development, climate change, and habitat loss.

“This recognition underscores something we hold at our core,” added Whelan. “Protecting land is an act of care for our environment, communities, and generations to come and we are quite pleased to share this milestone with our supporters and partners throughout the region.”

For more information about the Land Trust Accreditation program, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org

We acknowledge that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today.