NBLT Receives National Land Trust Alliance Commission Reaccreditation Award

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Dallas, PA – North Branch Land Trust (NBLT), a nonprofit, community-based, land conservation organization, was awarded its second renewal of accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission of Saratoga Springs, NY. This second renewal demonstrates that NBLT upheld the national standards for more than a decade. “Accreditation is a mark of distinction, recognizing land trusts that meet the national quality standards established by the land conservation community. NBLT has made an extraordinary commitment to excellence, trust and permanence in land conservation. The Commission especially recognizes NBLT’s work protecting the Mocanaqua Highlands,” states the Commission’s letter to NBLT’s executive director, Paul Lumia.

Lumia explained, “In keeping with the high standards established by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, accredited land trusts must reapply for accreditation every five years. The application process is rigorous and takes many months to complete for submission to The Commission. It’s a thorough process and NBLT is very pleased to receive this reaccreditation award and receive permission to continue to proudly use the accreditation seal.” Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission stated, “The accountability provided by the accreditation seal helps increase public confidence in land trusts.”

The Land Trust Accreditation 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 from around the country. The Land Trust Alliance based in Washington, DC, is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America.

For the past 25 years NBLT has conserved over 20,000 acres of land in eight surrounding counties – Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. These conserved lands protect watersheds and community drinking water supplies, habitat for indigenous plants and animals, natural areas for outdoor recreational activities, and lands for local agriculture. The Land Trust is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and looks forward to conserving the next 20,000 acres in the years to come. The organization’s board of directors, volunteers, members, donors, and staff are deeply grateful for the community support which helps carry out NBLT’s conservation mission in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

If you are interested in becoming involved with NBLT by becoming a member, making a donation, volunteering, or conserving your land, please visit their website www.nblt.org or call the office 570-310-1781 for more information.

The Land Trust’s new term of accreditation runs through July 31, 2024.

 

North Branch Purchases 390 Acre Crystal Lake Tract

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The North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) has recently purchased an important 389-acre tract of land in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County which will assist with water protection for the Delaware River and will improve public access and recreation opportunities to the Pinchot State Forest lands surrounding Crystal Lake.

The property sits atop the Delaware River Watershed and harbors wetlands and head water streams that feed into the Delaware River via the Bear Creek and Lehigh River. Trails on the property connect to existing trail networks on the neighboring state forest land. North Branch will be transferring the 389-acre parcel to the Pennsylvania State Forest system.

NBLT is grateful to have been able to purchase the land through grant support from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Community Conservation Partnership Program with funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, and the Open Space Institute’s Delaware River watershed Protection Fund which is made possible with funding from the William Penn Foundation for its Delaware River Watershed Initiative to protect water quality in the Delaware River Basin.