Standards & Practices

Issue 4 – Why Standards?

In This Issue

For the land trust community Standards and Practices – S&P in shorthand – are the guiding principles and policies that direct both the day-to-day operations of land trusts as well as each organization's conservation activity. The S&P E-Bulletin is dedicated to reviewing and synthesizing information relevant to land trusts in this regard. Rather than specifically reviewing a single Standard or Practice, this E-Bulletin will feature a discussion of why we (as members of the land trust community) have standards and practices in the first place and why the ultimate standard – the standard of excellence – is so vital to our conservation success. As Carter Smith, Texas State Director of The Nature Conservancy, recently noted, "With increasing public attention on the work of Texas' land trusts, it is imperative that we adhere to the Standards and Practices guidelines. In addition to the lands and waters we protect, our most precious asset is our reputation. To a large extent, our reputations will be defined by the extent of our professionalism and commitment to upholding, and even exceeding, the best standards in the industry."

In keeping with other editions of our E-Bulletin, we have also included some notes from Land Trust Alliance ("Alliance") publications (as well as links to helpful Alliance material on the subject), and some commentary about the relevance of Land Trust Standards and Practices in our conservation work here in Texas. We hope that this Bulletin will broaden readers' knowledge and expertise, expand the discussion of pertinent issues, and help to put into context some of the very real challenges facing land trusts and the further progress of conservation goals in Texas. Special thanks to TLTC board and staff, S&P committee members, and representatives of the Land Trust Alliance for input and advice regarding this topic.

Land Trust Standards and Practices

"Land Trust Standards and Practices are the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust" (Introduction, Land Trust Standards and Practices, the Land Trust Alliance, 2004).

Continue to Discussion…