Sustainable Iowa Land Trust became an accredited land trust in February 2022, a status that can be renewed every five years. Accreditation means Sustainable Iowa Land Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Sustainable Iowa Land Trust demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate the commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. To learn more about land trust accreditation and the current accreditation status of Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, visit http//www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.
As a life-long Iowan, I am a bit ashamed of how little I understood about Iowa's farmland and just how endangered it is. Our land is more than one of our most undervalued resources, it provides the means for future generations to eat healthier, generate income, and have long-term positive effects on the environment.
Before I began working with SILT, I was woefully unaware of any of this. SILT's mission to protect our land through sustainable farming practices and decreased use of pesticides, and more is not just important to Iowa and our economy, it's important to the world.
SILT has a plan to save our farmland, help the environment, local economies, and protect our future for generations to come, and I am proud to have helped and been a part of it. I highly encourage others to explore this fantastic organization and donate to this cause. Your children and grandchildren will thank you!
This organization is making a difference in the public health of Iowa in a number of ways. First, by helping young farmers gain access to land to grow healthful food. Second, buy using sustainable methods of farming, it is sequestering carbon and helping to fight climate change. Third, by providing an example to other areas it is helping to improve the health and climate of those areas as well. For a young organization it has shown remarkable energy and success.