Greater Lovell Land Trust staff, from left, are Rhyan Paquereau, stewardship manager; Sam Teixeira and Andy Irwin, summer interns; Leigh Hayes, education director; Alice Bragg, office manager; and Erika Rowland, executive director. The staff is at Eastman Hill Stock Farm in Lovell. Jill Rundle photo

Greater Lovell Land Trust has achieved national recognition, joining a network of more than 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its work.

“Accreditation demonstrates Greater Lovell Land Trust’s commitment to permanent land conservation in Maine,” said Erika Rowland, executive director, in a land trust news release. “Our strong professional staff, with the support of a great group of volunteers, has worked hard to reach this important milestone.”

Greater Lovell Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that Greater Lovell Land Trust’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres of land — the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.

“We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program. Our strength means that ecosystems in the Cold River, Kezar Lake and Kezar River watersheds will be protected forever, and our work serving the towns of Lovell, Stoneham, Stow and Sweden will assure that open lands will remain for the benefit of our communities in the future,” said Jill Rundle, president of the Greater Lovell Land Trust volunteer board.

The trust conserves more than 6,000 acres within the four western Maine communities it serves, providing hiking trails, water access, and White Mountain views at many sites, including Heald and Bradley Ponds Reserve in Lovell, Five Kezar Ponds Reserve in Stoneham, and the Stone House easement in Stow. Working closely with local schools, community groups, and other conservation organizations, the trust offers year-round environmental education and outdoor programs on a range of topics that are free to all.

A complete list of trails, and a schedule of upcoming activities and programs is available online at gllt.org.

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