Manada Conservancy 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 1997, Manada Conservancy has been doing just that for the people of Dauphin County. Now, the Conservancy has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.
“Accreditation demonstrates Manada Conservancy’s continuing commitment to permanent land conservation in Dauphin County,” said Will Dingman, Executive Director. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program. Our strength means special places – such as the Kittatinny Ridge – will be protected forever, making Central PA an even greater place for us and our children.” One of the Conservancy’s partners in protecting the Kittatinny Ridge, The Nature Conservancy, provided significant encouragement and grant funding toward the accreditation process.
Manada Conservancy provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that Manada Conservancy’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts across the United States steward almost 20 million acres of land – the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
The Conservancy is dedicated to preserving the natural, historic, agricultural, and scenic resources of Dauphin County. This mission is achieved through land protection, environmental education, and community engagement. To date, the Conservancy has protected nearly 3,000 acres of woodland, farmland, open space, and wetlands. Each year, several public education programs are presented free of charge on a variety of environmental topics. Volunteers have given many hours to plant trees along the Swatara Creek to reduce erosion and improve water quality. And many area residents are familiar with the annual native plant sale, now in its 24th year.
“It is exciting to recognize Manada Conservancy with this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
Manada Conservancy 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.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust, and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. To learn more about the accreditation program, visit https://www.landtrustaccreditation.org.