Chadds Ford, PA September 20, 2008 - The Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center has been awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. One of only 39 land trusts in the country to receive this honor, the accreditation signifies that the EMC meets national standards for excellence, upholds the public trust and ensures that conservation efforts are permanent.

"Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever," said Commission Executive Director Tammara Van Ryn. "The accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land."

"We are proud to receive this honor," noted Sherri Evans-Stanton, director of the Environmental Management Center. "It is truly rewarding to be recognized for our more than 40 years of work to permanently protect land in the region. We will display the accreditation seal to reflect our commitment to excellence and the highest professional standards."

Land is America's most important and valuable resource. Conserving the land helps ensure clean air and drinking water, food security, scenic landscapes and views, recreational places, and habitat for the diversity of life on earth. Across the country, local citizens and communities have come together to form land trusts to save the places they love. Community leaders in land trusts across the country have worked with willing landowners to save over 37 million acres of farms, forests, parks and places people care about. Strong, well-managed land trusts provide local communities with effective champions and caretakers of their critical land resources, and safeguard the land through the generations.

The Brandywine Conservancy (www.brandywineconservancy.org) was founded in 1967. Currently, it holds more than 400 conservation easements and has protected over 41,000 acres in Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, as well as New Castle County in Delaware. The Environmental Management Center provides conservation services to landowners, farmers, municipalities and developers. The staff of professional planners and natural resource managers offers technical assistance and expertise for conservation and comprehensive land use planning. Conservation easements, assistance to local governments and water protection efforts are the key elements of these programs.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awards the accreditation seal to community institutions that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance established in 2006, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. More information is available on the commission's website, http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org.

Contact Hillary Holland, hholland@brandywine.org