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E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
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For Immediate Release |
Public-Private Partners Join Forces in Carbon Sequestration Project
that Offsets Greehhouse Gases and Restores Critical Forestland |
State, Energy and Environmental Interests Unite to Acquire, Protect and Restore
580 Acres – Addressing Climate Change, Enhancing Wildlife Habitat and Expanding
Recreation Area |
AUSTIN, TEXAS, Apr. 8 -/E-Wire/-- Today a diverse group of public and private partners, including Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Reliant Energy, The Conservation Fund and Environmental Synergy Inc. (ESI), unveiled the nation's newest carbon sequestration project at a public ceremony in Austin, Texas. Through a market-based approach that benefits business and the environment, the partners joined forces to create a conservation solution will offset the environmental impacts of greenhouse gasses, provide new fish and wildlife habitat and bring recreation-driven economic benefits to east Texas.
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"Our mission is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of the state for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations," said Robert L. Cook, TPWD Executive Director. "This acquisition provides long-term benefits to the people of Texas by restoring a place for our children and grandchildren to enjoy outdoor recreation activities and experience nature, while actually improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink."
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On behalf of TPWD, The Conservation Fund acquired nearly 600 acres of converted pastureland, which will be included into the Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area near Tyler, TX. Reliant Energy, a Houston-based energy company, will fund the reforestation of the property, planting approximately 162,500 native trees, in an effort to address climate change, restore wildlife habitat and improve air quality. Over the next 70 years, these trees will capture an estimated 215,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, generating "carbon credits" that will be retained by Reliant.
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"What we have here is a truly outstanding partnership that blends industry, agency, and conservation organization energies to produce a unique environmental investment that helps address global climate change and, at the same time, restores a biodiverse bottomland hardwood ecosystem," said Fred McGuire, Reliant Energy's Vice President of environmental safety and industrial health.
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In addition to offsetting greenhouse gases, this newly created bottomland hardwood forest will improve water quality, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and serve as important habitat benefiting migratory songbirds, waterfowl, white-tailed deer and other wildlife. The lands will be added to the 5,167-acre Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area, located in Smith County, as part of a regional conservation strategy to preserve large tracts of bottomland hardwood forest, decrease habitat fragmentation and reduce urban sprawl in east Texas.
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"This type of public-private partnership represents a powerful breakthrough in using voluntary and market-driven approaches to address two of the nation's top environmental concerns -- climate change and habitat protection," said Lawrence Selzer, president of The Conservation Fund. "We applaud the commitment of Reliant Energy and the Texas Parks and Wildlife in balancing economic goals with environmental principles for the benefit of future generations."
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Leading energy companies such as Reliant Energy are taking voluntary, proactive measures to fund reforestation projects in order to offset the impacts greenhouse gas emissions as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Climate Challenge Program. These projects, structured to scientifically monitor carbon sequestration over time, take advantage of the fact that as plants grow, they incorporate carbon from the atmosphere into their structure through the process of photosynthesis. Sequestration programs encourage corporations and governments to plant trees to offset the impact of carbon emissions. Working with the public and private sectors, The Conservation Fund has partnered with ESI, an Atlanta-based company, on three previous carbon sequestration projects.
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"We see this reforestation initiative as a win-win situation for industry, government, the public, the local environment and global climate," said Dr. Joe Wisniewski, ESI CEO.
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Working in partnership with biologists from TPWD, Environmental Synergy Inc. will be responsible for planting water and willow oaks and native pecan trees in order to capture carbon dioxide as well as restore the native forest and riparian habitat within the Wildlife Management Area.
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"The immediate returns from this include everything from bird watching to additional public hunting opportunity, not to mention the addition of four miles of river access on the area for canoeing and kayaking," said Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area manager, Larry LeBeau. "As these trees mature it's going to provide much-needed bottomland habitat for numerous wildlife species." Private landowner, Curtis Baker, worked with TPWD representatives and The Conservation Fund to negotiate the sale and reforestation of a portion of his ranch land in order to provide wildlife habitat and protect water quality in and along the Sabine River. "My primary interest was to see the land reforested and managed for wildlife habitat," said Baker.
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In 1993, Baker donated 220 acres to TPWD in order to provide direct access to the then land-locked Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area. "After many years of working with TPWD and conservation groups like The Conservation Fund, I trust in their stewardship of the land. I could not ask for a better neighbor."
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is the state agency responsible for managing and conserving the natural and cultural resources of Texas and providing hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The agency manages more than 50 wildlife management areas, including the Old Sabine Bottom WMA, covering more than three-quarters of a million acres.
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Reliant Energy Reliant Resources, based in Houston, Texas, provides electricity and energy services to wholesale and retail customers in the U.S. and Europe, marketing those services under the Reliant Energy brand name. The company has approximately 21,000 megawatts of power generation capacity in operation, under construction or under contract in the U.S. and approximately 3,500 megawatts of power generation in operation in Europe. At the retail level, Reliant Resources provides a complete suite of energy products to electricity customers in Texas ranging from residences and small businesses to large commercial, institutional and industrial customers.
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The Conservation Fund The Conservation Fund, rated the top environmental organization by the American Institute of Philanthropy, acts to protect the nation's legacy of land and water resources in partnership with other organizations, public agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. Seeking innovative conservation solutions for the 21st century, the Fund works to integrate economic and environmental goals. Since its founding in 1985, the Fund has helped to protect wildlife habitat, greenways, community "greenspace" and historic sites totaling more than 3.4 million acres throughout the nation.
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Environmental Synergy Inc. Environmental Synergy, Inc. (ESI) is a service organization providing reforestation and carbon quantification services to corporate clients as a means to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and promote sustainable forestry. ESI's team of dedicated professionals works with federal and state government agencies, conservation organizations, experienced foresters and wildlife biologists, and leading scientists to provide an unparalleled program combining state-of-the-art carbon sequestration science and a commitment to restoring biodiversity to ecologically damaged ecosystems.
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/SOURCE:
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The Conservation Fund |
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04-08-2003 |
/CONTACT:
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Lori Gosset, Robert Marston And Associates, Tel: 212-371-2200 ext 325, Email: lgossett@marstonpr.com |
| /WEB SITE: |
http://http://www.conservationfund.org
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