The results from our latest salary survey show that salaries and benefits for land trust staff are rising and keeping up with inflation. Many land trusts have said that this survey is one of the most useful resources the Alliance provides, and we’d like to thank those that participated to make this crucial information available. Here are a few key pieces; read the rest of the survey for more: Average executive director salary is $65,573 23% of respondents pay their executive directors $80,000 or more per year 93% offer flexible work schedules for their employees

In early 2007 the Alliance submitted questions to the IRS requesting guidance on interpretation of the new tax incentive. See their responses in the full notice from the IRS and our summary that was recently posted on our website. The IRS also just released a draft of a new, completely revised Form 990 – the tax return form for land trusts and other nonprofits. The Alliance is analyzing the new draft, so watch for additional guidance coming soon!

Read a new report by the Conservation Resource Center just added to our website, “State Conservation Tax Credits: Impact and Analysis.” The report assesses the effectiveness of the nation’s 12 state income tax credits in advancing land conservation, and provides guidance to other states considering such programs.

We are delighted to announce that Catherine Scott will serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Alliance starting this fall. As COO, she will manage operations that include programs such as education, finance, policy, communications, information services and technology, and fundraising. For the past seven years as Director of Land Conservation for the Piedmont Environmental Council, she has supervised seven senior directors and field offices. We are honored to have someone of Catherine’s caliber as a new leader for the Alliance team. More

The new accreditation seal will soon be awarded to recognize land conservation organizations that meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, will award the seal to accredited land trusts beginning in 2008. See a fact sheet about the seal and visit the Commission’s website for more on the land trust accreditation program.

NatureServe and National Geographic recently announced an exciting new collaboration to create a website about America’s natural places and land protection; Alliance President Rand Wentworth is serving on the Project Advisory Council. The website will include an interactive encyclopedia and map viewer that integrates detailed maps, photos, statistics, audio and video. This will be a great resource and benefit to strategic conservation for land trusts. More

The Alliance has information and resources that may be of interest to your members. Send us the name and e-mail address of the newsletter editor at your land trust to pressroom@lta.org to be included on our distribution list. We’d like to offer complimentary, pre-written Alliance story copy and images for your newsletter or website. Please also include contact information for your designated media contact. This is also the e-mail address for you to send us your electronic newsletter, if we’re not on your list.