Texas Agricultural Land Trust Earns National Recognition CATTLE RAISERS
COMMUNITY
INDUSTRY NEWS
T
EXAS AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST (
TXAGLANDTRUST.ORG) has achieved accreditation from the Land Trust
Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. “The accreditation process gave TALT a lens to exam-
ine our internal operations and to make sure we were holding ourselves to the highest standards of profes- sionalism, process, and transparency. It was rigorous, but it should be. We’re in the business of trust, and the seal of accreditation is key to earning that trust,” says Blair Fitzsimons, executive director. TALT was formed in 2006 by leaders from several
statewide agricultural, wildlife and landowner organi- zations. The only Texas land trust whose sole focus is the conservation of agricultural lands, TALT today has partnered with landowners to conserve close to 145,000 acres of prime working lands throughout the state. The Texas Agricultural Land Trust was awarded
accreditation in April and is one of 207 land trusts out of approximately 1,700 from across the country
that have been awarded accreditation since the fall of 2008. Accredited land trusts are authorized to display a seal indicating to the public that they meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. The seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation. Conserving private agricultural land helps provide
many public benefi ts for Texans, including clean air and drinking water; safe, affordable food; scenic landscapes and views; recreational places; and wildlife habitat. “The image most people have of Texas is of wide
open spaces. If we don’t take steps to protect our open space, much of it will just be a memory,” said TALT’s Board President Richard Lucas, Houston, who is also a TSCRA director. ”Being accredited by the Land Trust Alliance helps the Texas Agricultural Land Trust build trust in the landowner community to achieve our goal of conserving private lands for the benefi t of all Texans now and for generations to come.”
SMA0021-13-VGLaunch-HPFC-H-7x5-P.indd 1 20 The Cattleman July 2013
2/06/13 12:28 PM
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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