Frenchman Bay Conservancy earns national recognition for strong commitment to public trust and conservation excellence.

Hancock, Maine — Frenchman Bay Conservancy has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work. This marks Frenchman Bay Conservancy’s third accreditation, a high level of distinction for the organization.

“Re-accreditation demonstrates Frenchman Bay Conservancy’s commitment to permanent land conservation in eastern Hancock County,” said Aaron Dority, Executive Director. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal program. Our strength means special places such as Tidal Falls in Hancock and Partridge Cove in Lamoine will be protected forever – making Downeast Maine an even greater place for all of us and our children.”

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

Over the past decade, Frenchman Bay Conservancy has tripled the amount of land it conserves—from approximately 6,500 acres in 2014 to over 20,000 acres of conserved land today. Notable additions include the Green Lake and Whitney Community Forest properties in Ellsworth, the Frenchman Bay Community Forest in Hancock, and the former Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton. FBC has expanded its public hiking and walking trail network to over 40 miles, and now serves more than 400 public school students in eastern Hancock County each year through their Outdoor Education program. These accomplishments reflect the organization’s deep commitment to conservation, community, and future generations.

“It is exciting to recognize Frenchman Bay Conservancy with this national mark of distinction,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 450 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”

Frenchman Bay Conservancy is one of 1,363 land trusts across the United States, according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org. For questions, please contact Chrissy MacKinnon, Director of Communications & Community Outreach at chrissy@frenchmanbay.org; 207-422-2328.

Frenchman Bay Conservancy is a nationally accredited nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to conserving distinctive ecosystems, lands, and waters for the benefit of all, from the Union River and Frenchman Bay watersheds east to the Hancock County line. For more, visit frenchmanbay.org

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission inspires excellence, promotes public trust and ensures permanence in the conservation of open lands by recognizing organizations that meet rigorous quality standards and strive for continuous improvement. The Commission, established in 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, is governed by a volunteer board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts. For more, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org.