Standards & Practices

Introduction

Over the next several years, it will become increasingly important for land trust organizations to demonstrate conscientious adherence to established standards and practices. TLTC’s Excellence Program is an initiative focused on building and sustaining the organizational capacity of Texas land trusts through training, technical assistance, consultation, needs assessment, and outreach. A primary goal of this vanguard program is to prepare Texas land trusts for successful fulfillment of all requirements in the accreditation process. The Texas Land Trust Excellence Program is made possible by generous support from the Houston Endowment.

As part of this innovative program, we are making many instructional materials and opportunities available to Texas land trusts. Please refer to this page for resources, training & educational opportunities and publications, including the Standards & Practices Electronic Bulletin. The E-Bulletin will be available on a bi-monthly basis and cover a different S&P issue/concern in each issue, with topics based on results from the most recent statewide survey of Texas land trusts. E-Bulletin topics will focus primarily on Indicator Practices outlined by LTA, those practices that specifically will be reviewed for land trusts during the accreditation process. (Indicator Practices are noted with italicized text) Land trusts will be required to meet Indicator practices in order to receive accreditation in the future. The underlying goal is to help all Texas land trusts reach their conservation and organizational goals which will, in turn, further conservation progress and sustainability for the land trust movement as a whole.

Each S&P E-Bulletin will include a discussion of the Practice (with links to LTAnet website resources), worksheets, and both national and state commentary and/or examples of policies and procedures. Much of the information can be readily incorporated into policy manuals and everyday application for your organization. We strongly encourage land trusts to discuss the issues and the E-Bulletin content with their Boards and conservation peers.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Land Trust Standards & Practices please refer to the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) or the Manager of the Texas Land Trust Excellence Program, Tommi Ferguson (tferguson@texaslandtrustcouncil.org or 512.236.0655).