Local land conservancy readies for national accreditation

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Sue Julian

CLARKSTON, Michigan – Despite the advances of urban sprawl into northwest Oakland County, the North Oakland County Headwaters Land Conservancy (NOHLC) remains stalwart in its battle to preserve the area’s precious natural resources. The organization has gained great ground – quite literally – since its early inception in the 1960s.

Last week, the NOHLC announced it now seeks national accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.

“During the last three years, NOHLC has been restructuring its organization with an eye on becoming the best in class among Michigan-based land conservancies,” NOHLC President Sue Julian said. “Achieving accreditation assures our donors and landowners that we are dedicated to the highest conservation standards.”

Accreditation affirms that NOHLC meets national quality standards for protecting natural resources and complies with standards for ethical and technical operation of a land trust.

Predicting the need to protect natural resources such as wetlands, headwaters, and land that is habitat for Michigan’s wildlife from encroaching development, pioneers of land conservancy in Independence Township, formed one of Michigan’s first land conservancies in the 1960s.

NOHLC now has interests in 53 properties totaling 1,200 acres in six communities including Holly, Independence and Springfield Townships. The organization’s mission is to protect the unique character of the natural resources and quality of life for the communities and future generations of northwest Oakland County.

“Even though southeast Michigan’s population has decreased in the last decade, some communities in northwest Oakland County have grown by as much as 36 percent,” Paul Rabaut, a NOHLC board member said. “The need to carefully balance land development with preservation is more important than ever.”

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how NOHLC complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. Click here to see the full list of standards.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit the Land Trust Accreditation Commission online.  Comments may also be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comment, 112 Spring Street, Ste. 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, or faxed to (518) 587-3183. Comments on NOHLC’s application will be most useful if received by Jan. 1, 2012.

Visit the NOHLC website for more information about the organization.