eNews
Winter 2020 | Vol 13 | No 1
Tall Timbers Earns National Recognition
Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence
One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1990, Tall Timbers has been doing just that for the people of the Red Hills region. Now Tall Timbers has been awarded its second land trust accreditation renewal—proving once again that, as part of a network of over 400 accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
“Renewing our accreditation shows Tall Timbers’ ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation in the greater Red Hills region of North Florida and Southwest Georgia,” said Kevin McGorty, Land Conservancy Director. “Our conservation easements protect some of the last remnants of the great longleaf pine forests that once dominated the landscape. In addition, our easements protect rivers, lakes, canopy roads, and working lands that add distinctiveness to the rural character of the Red Hills.” Today, Tall Timbers holds over 142,000 acres under conservation easement, and it owns Tall Timbers Research Station and Dixie Plantation for fire ecology, wildlife and land management research and public outreach.
Old Growth Woods, a 1,108-acre property in Grady County, Georgia owned by June White, Barbara White, Jane White, and family is under conservation easement with Tall Timbers.
Tall Timbers 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 Tall Timbers’ lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts now steward almost 20 million acres—the size of Denali, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Everglades and Yosemite National Parks combined.
“It is exciting to recognize Tall Timbers’ continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
Tall Timbers is one of 1,363 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.
