Michigan Conservancies Honored at National Land Trust Conference
Heart of the Lakes members, the South West Michigan Land Conservancy and the Little Forks Land Conservancy were given special recognition earlier this month at the Land Trust Alliance’s national conference.
October 26, 2010
By Heart of the Lakes
Two Michigan land conservancies were given special recognition earlier this month at the Land Trust Alliance’s national conference held in Hartford, Connecticut. The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC), based in Portage, received the National Land Trust Excellence Award, the highest bestowed to land trusts by the Alliance. Singled out from over 1,700 land trusts nationwide, SWMLC was recognized for their pioneering work in developing and implementing conservation management plans and strategic conservation planning. See clips of SWMLC’s Executive Director Peter Ter Louw’s acceptance speech here.
The Little Forks Conservancy, based in Midland, was also recognized at the conference as one of the most recent land trusts in the country to receive national accreditation. By meeting the very highest ethical and technical standards, accreditation assures the quality and performance of Little Fork’s land conservation work and recognizes their ability to protect important natural places and working lands forever. For a photo of the Little Forks Conservancy staff at the Accreditation Recognition Ceremony, please click here. (l to r: Joelle Ferguson, Communications Specialist; Doug Koop, Executive Director; and Elan Lipschitz, Land Protection Specialist)
Heart of the Lakes extends our congratulations to both organizations. SWMLC helps people protect the local wild and scenic places they care most about in nine counties of southwest Michigan. Since 1996, The Little Forks Conservancy has partnered with private landowners in or near the Tittabawassee River Watershed to protect and preserve the unique natural features of this region. Both groups participate in the Advancing Conservancy Excellence program, a partnership between Heart of the Lakes and the Land Trust Alliance. Click here to see their service areas and those of other Heart of the Lakes members.
