Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust became an accredited land trust in August 2021, a status that can be renewed every five years. Accreditation means Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Agricultural-Natural Resources 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 Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust, visit http//www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.
Review from Guidestar
The Agriculture-Natural Resources Trust is working to protect our valuable natural resources to maintain working landscapes throughout California. Support of this organization allows our Board and staff continue to work to prevent the significant loss of rangelands in a state that has been losing up to 20,000 acres per year which equates to increased greenhouse gas emissions and loss of ecosystem services including clean water and habitat.
My husband and I own property that went from a golf course to open space not by our choice but because of wrong doing by a lessee of the course.
The property was deed restricted to be only a golf course or open space and not agricultural.
Which meant no one wanted to buy it . I reached out to the Contra Costa Agricultical Trust and they were tremendous in helping us to get the deed restriction changed to add Ag use to it and was able to get a fair market appraisal and price offer on the property.
The Agricultural-Natural Resources Trust is a dedicated, hard-working organization that focuses on connecting the Agricultural community to the natural resource community through conservation of agricultural and/or sensitive natural resource lands that support the goals of both ends of the spectrum. This organization has worked incredibly hard to establish itself as an advocate of the agricultural community, while acquiring and protecting agricultural lands, and lands that support natural resources. This is a fine balance for two groups (ag and environmental) that are generally skeptical of their respective goals.
My experience with this group has been extremely positive. I support their mission, goals, and style, as well as the ultimate outcome of establishing conservation easements that help benefit local farmers and ranchers, while protecting and preserving open space and natural resources in the region.
The Executive Director and Board focus on personal connections--your'e more likely to feel a hand-shake that get an email. Great organization with a great goal.