June 10, 2008
Contacts:
Jena Thompson, The Conservation Fund, 512.423.5086
Ryan Frohling, Marais des Cygnes NWR, 913.352.8956
Katie Connell, Delta Air Lines, 404.314.2577
Russell Simon, CarbonFund.org (on behalf of Allstate), 240.334.3681
PLEASANTON, Kansas – Representatives from Allstate, Cambridge Systematics, Delta Air Lines and U-Haul International joined The Conservation Fund (the Fund) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) today to announce the restoration of 775 acres of forestland at Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Kansas City. The new oak, hickory and pecan trees will restore sensitive wildlife habitat, enhance public recreation areas and address climate change by trapping more than 230,000 tons of carbon dioxide as the trees grow.
“The World Bank estimates that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions is caused by deforestation,” said The Conservation Fund's Go Zero director, Jena Thompson. “Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of our partners, the expertise of Environmental Synergy Inc. (ESI), and the commitment of the FWS, we are raising much needed capital to address the most pressing environmental challenges of our time—climate change and habitat loss—by restoring these critical forestlands.”
Private support for the initiative was made possible via a mix of donations from corporations, foundations and individual donors—over 30 partners in total—to The Conservation Fund’s Go ZeroSM program. Go Zero works with companies and individuals to help reduce and then offset the carbon footprint of almost any activity, such as the electricity it takes to power a Dell notebook, the fuel from an international flight on Delta Air Lines, or the gas that is used during a move with U-Haul.
To help trap the carbon dioxide that results from these activities, the Fund works with the FWS to identify protected natural areas where it can plant native trees that will restore ecosystems for wildlife and people alike.
“The Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to do its part to address the global climate change issues,” said Jay Slack, deputy regional director, Mountain Prairie Region. “We are equally proud to be able to do this with The Conservation Fund and its numerous corporate partners. Conservation of our natural resources and protection of the global environment is everyone's responsibility.”
Delta launched its partnership with the Fund in 2007 as part of its Force for Global Good.
“Delta is committed to affecting positive environmental change on a global scale," said Jaime Jewell, general manager of marketing for Delta Air Lines. "Our partnership with the Fund has helped us continue our mission in a very visual and lasting way. Over the course of just one year, we launched the first carbon offset program offered by any U.S. carrier and raised enough funds to plant 102,000 trees; we remain committed to doing more.”
The refuge also benefits from customer donations made via Dell’s “Plant a Tree for Me” program.
“Protecting the environment is a task that crosses both geographical and generational lines,” said David Frink, senior manager of Dell Corporate Affairs. “We're excited to partner with our customers, The Conservation Fund and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in broadening the impact of our ‘Plant a Tree for Me’ program and helping ensure the well being of our natural resources.”
“Since we began our partnership with the Fund’s Go Zero program in 2007, we have been thrilled that our customers’ contributions were going to assist with the forestland that was being restored near Kansas City,” added John "J.T." Taylor, president of U-Haul International, Inc. “This program complements U-Haul Company's long-standing sustainability initiative, and its commitment to conducting business in a socially responsible manner. We strive to protect the environment and benefit the communities where we live and serve."
Gaiam, a lifestyle company, works with the Fund’s Go Zero program to offset the CO2 emissions that result from shipping parcels that customers buy online.
“Engaging Gaiam's customers across the globe to help restore our most vulnerable wildlife habitat is core to our mission of promoting natural, healthy living,” said Christopher Fisher with Gaiam. “We are proud to work with the Fund and with the FWS. Today’s celebration means one more national wildlife refuge has been restored – only 540 more to go.”
The land was planted by ESI and will be managed by the FWS. ESI will monitor the newly restored forest for carbon accrual using on-site measurements over time. The project will then be verified by Environmental Resources Trust.
“We view this project as a rewarding, win-win partnership with benefits for business, government, the public, the local ecosystem and the global climate,” said Carol Jordan, president of ESI.
Since 2000, The Conservation Fund has restored nearly 20,000 acres with 6 million trees that are expected to capture more than 7.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere over the next century.
Participating sponsors include: Allstate, C & S Wholesale Grocers, Cambridge Systematics, CarbonFund.org Foundation, Dell, Delta Air Lines, E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company, First Ascent Sales, Gaiam, Khronos, Kohlberg Foundation, Land Rover Portland, Midea Group, Monsanto Company, New Jersey Natural Gas, Pictorial Offset Corporation, Shawnee Peak at Pleasant Mountain, The Grupe Company, The Home Depot, The Timberland Company, U-Haul International, United Talent Agency, Universal Studios, William McDonough & Partners, P.L.C., Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, World Class Charters, LLC, and Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Located just 39 miles south of the Kansas City Metropolitan area, the 7,500-acre haven for wildlife was named after the Marais des Cygnes River (French for “marsh of the swans”), which runs through the heart of the protected landscape. Established in 1992 to restore and conserve bottomland hardwood forest, the refuge is located along a transition zone that changes from southern hardwood forest to tallgrass prairie.
Today the refuge supports a mix of wetlands, bottomland and upland forest and tallgrass prairie habitats. Nationally, bottomland hardwood forest has been reduced by 80 percent since Euro-American settlement, and tallgrass prairie has been reduced by 99 percent. Visitors may spot 30 species of mussels, including the “flat floater,” 22 species of migrating warblers, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, Henslow's sparrow, Bell's vireo and Mead's milkweed.
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