May 18, 2012
Contact:
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, (843) 335-8401
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
Mcbee, S.C. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed an acquisition of 269 acres of forestland in Chesterfield County. Formerly owned by Timberland Investment Resources, LLC, a timber investment management organization, the property was purchased by The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit conservation organization, and held until funding was available for the Service to acquire it. The lands are now part of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
Surrounded by refuge lands on three sides, the tract provides habitat for many of the same species found on the refuge, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, Eastern fox squirrel, and forest-dwelling migratory birds. The purchase was made possible with funds from the Service and with support from The Conservation Fund.
This tract was formerly part of the extensive holdings of Bowater, Incorporated. Timberland Investment Resources purchased the tract for investment purposes on behalf of their clients. This ownership pattern provided stability, although management favored fast growing, short rotation pines.
Of significant management interest is the ability to use this tract as a demonstration site for longleaf pine ecosystem restoration. The Carolina Sandhills NWR is one of only two refuges in the Southeast Region designated as a demonstration refuge for longleaf pine restoration and management. The newly-acquired parcel is currently forested in loblolly pine, an off-site pine species for Sandhills region. The Service will work with conservation partners to restore the site to longleaf pine. Restoring these lands to native longleaf habitat and associated groundcover will provide a unique opportunity to demonstrate the restoration process to private landowners.
Longleaf pine with its extensive tap root and ability to tolerate frequent fires is the naturally occurring and dominant species on the deep, sandy soils characteristic of the Sandhills. The refuge, which includes 46,000 acres of longleaf forest, contains one of the largest remaining tracts of longleaf pine in its range. At one time, there was more than 92 million acres of longleaf pine from southern Virginia south to Florida and west to eastern Texas. Today, longleaf pine occurs on approximately three million acres, less than three percent of its former range.
“Our partners and the landowners who have made the choice to conserve their property have made the Carolina Sandhills Refuge, as well as the broader conservation efforts of the Sandhills Longleaf Pine Conservation Partnership, a reality,” said Allyne Askins, refuge manager. “The efforts of The Conservation Fund made this investment for wildlife and people possible. Partnerships like this continue to protect these important natural resources for future generations.”
“What makes this acquisition even more exciting is that not only are we adding lands to the conservation landscape, but we will involve more partners and surrounding landowners in its restoration and management,” said Jason Johnson, South Carolina Director of The Conservation Fund. “We are proud to help the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service continue its investment in longleaf pine management, restoration and protection in the region.”
Photos courtesy of U.S. Fiah and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov or follow us on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/usfws.
May 17, 2012
Contact:
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
Arlington, Va. — The Conservation Fund praised the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands for a hearing today on the reinstatement of important bipartisan legislation, the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), HR 3365. Over 100 groups applaud Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis and support reinstating the FLTFA program, calling it a balanced approach for selling land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a needed boost for conservation funding and an important economic tool for the West.
Through FLTFA’s deficit neutral “land for land” program, the private sector, municipalities and others may buy lands BLM has identified for sale. Many ranchers and farmers have purchased adjacent BLM lands often allowing them to expand their operations. BLM has also sold lands to timber interests, real estate companies, a community college, landfills, a cemetery and others. These purchases help support economic development, consolidate land ownership, create jobs and increase revenues to counties by putting land on the tax rolls.
“FLTFA reauthorization will provide another important tool to help working family ranches and farms through its balanced, ‘land for land,’ approach,” said Jim Magagna, Executive Vice President, Wyoming Stock Growers Association. “We appreciate Representative Lummis’ leadership in introducing this bill that will benefit rural communities and ranchers.”
"FLTFA provided a solution for my ranch,” said Gary Marshall of Broken Circle Company in Oregon. “The BLM land I bought was completely encircled by private property. I know others that would like to buy BLM land within and adjacent to their properties. FLTFA would help both BLM and ranchers accomplish our land goals.
The BLM sales generate funding for the “FLTFA Account” that Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture may use to acquire critical inholdings from willing sellers within national recreational areas, national forests, national trails and other areas. These conservation tracts provide recreational access for hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and other activities, as well as preserve the historic, scenic and cultural resources of the properties. The purchases often enhance the tourism and recreation economies of local communities through retail sales, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and more. By providing landowners with additional opportunities to sell their lands, FLTFA can help landowners achieve their economic goals.
“In a time of increased budget pressures, FLTFA balances conservation and economics and demonstrates a creative way to generate funds to acquire high priority land for conservation, outdoor recreation and historic preservation without impacting the budget deficit,” said The Conservation Fund’s president, Larry Selzer. “FLTFA complements the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other public and private funding that help to protect some of America’s favorite places.”
“The program has protected historically significant lands like Zane Grey's fishing camp on the Rogue Wild and Scenic River in Oregon and staved off development within iconic places like Zion National Park,” said Brent Handley, Western Division Transaction Director for The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit conservation organization that has partnered with federal agencies on FLTFA projects. “FLTFA also helps consolidate inholdings to allow for better management of public lands. It's a critically important and common-sense conservation tool.”
“We applaud Representative Lummis’ work to reauthorize FLTFA for the benefit of the sportsmen’s community,” said Blake Henning, vice president of conservation for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. “Reinstating FLTFA would bring back an incredible program that will provide access to hunting and will conserve, restore and enhance elk and other wildlife habitat, without impacting the federal budget.”
In the Senate, Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman introduced a similar bill, S. 714, which has seven western cosponsors and has been favorably reported out of Committee.
Before FLTFA’s authority expired last July, the BLM completed hundreds of federal land sales, generating over $115 million and funding 39 projects. FLTFA accomplishments include:
Photo: Howie Garber, Wanderlust Photo
May 16, 2012
Contact:
Kate Kelly (DOI) 202-208-6416
Annapolis, MD — Joined by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and other leaders in a ceremony at Sandy Point State Park, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today designated four water trails as new historic connecting components of the existing Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
Today’s Secretarial designation recognizes the significance of four connecting rivers—the Susquehanna, Chester, Upper Nanticoke and Upper James Rivers—to the history, cultural heritage, and natural resources of the 3,000-mile-long national historic trail in the Chesapeake Bay. The new river connecting trails are found in Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
“These river trails, totaling 841 miles in length, are closely associated with John Smith’s exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including the American Indian towns and cultures of the 17th-century Chesapeake that he encountered,” said Secretary Salazar. “Incorporating these river segments into the national historic trail will increase public access, provide important recreation and tourism opportunities, and enrich exploration of the water routes in the entire Chesapeake watershed.”
Today’s designation of trail components of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail will enable the National Park Service, which administers the national trail, to work closely with state and local agencies and other partners—notably conservation and tribal organizations—to provide technical and financial assistance, resource management, facility enhancement, interpretive trail route marking and promotion along the connecting trails.
Congress authorized the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail in 2006 as “a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.” Today Secretary Salazar used his authority under the National Trails System Act to designate the connecting rivers as part of the national trail with the support of the five states.
"Today, thanks to the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Salazar, we are blazing a new trail for America's great outdoors," said Governor O'Malley. "By linking our extraordinary landscapes and waterways to our country's history, the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail will support jobs and local economies across the region while providing unique opportunities for visitors to explore our cultural heritage while enjoying our natural resources."
Today’s event also drew participation from a number of other public officials and conservation and tribal leaders. Speakers included Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service; Patrick Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of the Conservation Fund; and Joel Dunn, executive director of The Chesapeake Conservancy.
The numerous American Indian leaders joining the ceremony today included: Tadodaho Sid Hill, spiritual leader of the Haudenosaunee nations (Six Nation/Iroquois Confederacy); Sid Jamieson, Chief of the Mohawk Nation; Stephen Adkins, Chief of the Chickahominy Tribe; Dennis Coker, Chief of the Lenape Tribe; Rico Newman, Piscataway member and chairman of the Maryland Indian Tourism Association; Deanna Beacham of the Virginia Council of Indians and member of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Advisory Council; and Virginia Busby of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs.
The Chesapeake Conservancy funded and managed a professional evaluation of Chesapeake Bay tributaries to determine their potential for designation as historic connecting components to the Captain John Smith trail. Research teams included historians, tribal representatives and regional universities.
Based on the study’s findings, the Chesapeake Conservancy worked with local watershed, tribal and water trail groups and state agencies to develop applications to the National Park Service to nominate the four rivers as connecting trail components.
Each of the nominations was supported by the governors of the five states through which the connecting trails pass, and by local groups, including American Indian tribes and descendant communities.
President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative recognized the Capt. John Smith trail and the nominated historic connecting components as important parts of the 21st Century conservation agenda of the United States—an agenda that includes increasing access to water-based outdoor recreation, encouraging community connections to cultural resources, and promoting tourism that fuels local economies.
“The Chesapeake Conservancy greatly appreciates the Secretary’s designations today, which are the culmination of years of research and planning by private and public partners in the Chesapeake Bay region,” said executive director Joel Dunn. “The four historic connecting river components of the national historic trail extend the framework for collaborative conservation of our region’s history, wildlife and special places on a large landscape scale.”
“These designations do far more than create water trails and treasured lands that are a part of our history,” The Conservation Fund’s Noonan added. “They create opportunities for our children’s children to enjoy the natural beauty and bounty of the Chesapeake and her rivers and to experience their own Chesapeake journeys. Their gratitude will be thanks enough.”
For a map of the water trails, click here.
Photo: Bill Portlock
May 11, 2012
Contact:
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
Springettsbury Township, Pa. — The Conservation Fund announced today that it has purchased a 47-acre property that was the primary site of Camp Security, a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp from the Revolutionary War. The Conservation Fund is providing “bridge” financing to acquire the property and will own it for up to one year while money is raised to ensure its permanent protection.
Camp Security is one of only a handful of POW camps established during the Revolutionary War era that have not been lost to residential or commercial development. Located just east of the City of York in Springettsbury Township, it held approximately 1,500 captured British soldiers and their families between 1781 and 1783. The site was named one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” in 2005 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The 47-acre tract is located adjacent to the 115-acre Rowe Farm, which was conserved in May 2011 as part of Springettsbury Township’s Camp Security Preservation Area. A portion of Camp Security is believed to have been situated on the Rowe Farm. The ultimate protection of these two historic properties will offer new opportunities for exploration and interpretation of Camp Security. The Conservation Fund intends to transfer ownership of the property to Springettsbury Township once fundraising is complete.
The total cost of the project, which includes the purchase price of just under $940,000, pre-acquisition expenses, closing fees and carrying costs for one year, will be about $1.05 million. Springettsbury Township and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) have already committed $350,000 in project funding. The Conservation Fund will need to raise approximately $700,000 to ensure preservation of the property. The Friends of Camp Security and The Conservation Fund have embarked on a local fundraising campaign to raise a portion of this remaining need from donors throughout the region.
“The Board of Supervisors of Springettsbury Township is looking forward to working with The Conservation Fund in continuing the process of helping to preserve the Camp Security property,” said Bill Schenck, Chairman. “The Board approved a commitment of $100,000 at the May 10, 2012 meeting to be utilized as a match towards the DCNR grant and approved an agreement with The Conservation Fund to take ownership of the property. This coordinated effort of private non-profits, government and citizens, upon completion, will lead to the preservation of 47 acres of open space for recreational purposes.”
“Through its grant program, DCNR helps communities realize their vision for protecting and enjoying their natural and cultural assets,” DCNR Secretary Richard Allan said. “We are always pleased when our investment leverages local and private dollars to accomplish these goals.”
“We are delighted that after more than 10 years of work, the known area of Camp Security will be preserved,” said Carol Tanzola, President of the Friends of Camp Security. “However, the work is not completed. We now turn to the people in York County, the state, and the nation to help fund this purchase. Camp Security is a real national treasure.”
The Conservation Fund acquired the property from local businessman Timothy F. Pasch. “I am pleased to support the effort to save and explore Camp Security for current and future generations,” said Pasch. “I invite the public to donate generously to the effort to protect and explore this property.”
The conservation of this property, along with the adjacent Rowe Farm, will help Springettsbury Township fulfill its goal of protecting and enhancing open space for public recreation and enjoyment. Approximately 8,000 Township residents live within a 15-minute walk of the property, and tens of thousands more live within a 15-minute drive. Protection of the site will ensure that the historic resources of Camp Security will be preserved for future generations, while providing much-needed passive recreational space for Township and other York County residents.
“I applaud the tenacity and dedication of the organizations and individuals who for so long have sought to preserve this property,” said York County Commissioner Doug Hoke. “Their success helps ensure that York County’s important role in our nation’s history is preserved, and creates yet another addition to York County’s expansive network of public recreational space.”
“Camp Security is located less than an hour from Gettysburg and about an hour and a half from Valley Forge— two historic sites that draw several million visitors each year,” said Todd McNew, Pennsylvania Director of The Conservation Fund. “Once Camp Security is protected, explored and promoted, we believe that thousands will visit annually to learn about what took place here nearly 230 years ago. This project will be a win for local residents, the environment and the regional economy.”
April 26, 2012
Contact:
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
Arlington, VA — Disney announced today a $6 million investment to support forest carbon projects in California, including support for The Conservation Fund’s North Coast Forest Conservation initiative.
Renowned for its raw beauty and rich wildlife, forests across California’s north coast were heavily impacted by aggressive harvesting, changing timber owners and encroaching development, which resulted in forest loss with significant impact to spotted owls, salmon and other species that call the forest home. Since 2004, The Conservation Fund has worked with its partners to protect and restore more than 100,000 acres across Mendocino County while creating a supply of local jobs through sustainable timber management and sales of carbon offsets.
Disney’s announcement highlights several projects that help replant forests and improve forest management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve forests in the Mendocino, San Diego and Los Angeles areas. The company stated that today’s investment builds on Disney’s longstanding history of nature conservation and environmental stewardship, a legacy that spans more than sixty years.
“Disney’s citizenship efforts are focused on the well-being of children and families, and conserving nature for future generations is an important part of this commitment,” said Leslie Goodman, senior vice president of Corporate Citizenship at Disney. “The work we do with dedicated environmental stewards, including The Conservation Fund, is helping to protect forest ecosystems and wildlife habitats that are critical to the livelihood of communities across California.”
This investment marks more than $20 million from Disney to forest carbon projects since 2009.
“Disney’s continued support of forest conservation projects with The Conservation Fund is making a direct and positive impact on the forests of California’s north coast in ways that help generate revenue for the local economy while protecting redwoods and streams for steelhead trout and coho salmon,” said The Conservation Fund’s president, Larry Selzer. “We are thrilled by their renewed commitment to our North Coast Forest Conservation Initiative and their confidence in our work.”
In addition to restoring the forests’ watersheds and supporting local economies, these efforts fight climate change. The Conservation Fund’s north coast forest conservation projects are the largest to win recognition for reducing greenhouse gases under rules adopted by the Climate Action Reserve.
Download a PDF of the Fund’s 2011 North Coast Annual Report.
Photo: Matt Gerhart (top); Chris Kelly, The Conservation Fund (homepage).
April 25, 2012
Contact:
Andrew French, Project Leader 413-548-8002, Andrew_French@fws.gov
Kristin DeBoer, Executive Director, Kestrel Land Trust, 413-695-3468, kristin@kestreltrust.org
This is an excerpt from the original release written and distributed by U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service. Click here to read the full release on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website.
Hadley, Mass. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week acquired 32 acres in Hadley, Mass., for the Fort River Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
The land had been subdivided into four house lots and put on the real estate market in July of 2011. To protect the land from development, the Kestrel Land Trust stepped in at that time to purchase the land until the Conte Refuge could acquire the property. The purchase was made possible with funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund with support from The Conservation Fund. [Click here to learn about our Land Trust Loan Program, which provided the financing]
"I was pleased to support this new addition to the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge using funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Protecting lands of local and national significance is a gift to future generations," said U.S. Representative John Olver.
The refuge division is in the heart of a mosaic of farmlands and grasslands extending north from the base of the Mt. Holyoke Range to the Fort River in Hadley and Amherst, Mass.
The newly acquired land at the Fort River Division will help protect the longest free-flowing tributary to the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. The Fort River and its surrounding provide habitat for the federally endangered dwarf wedge mussel and rare bird species.
April 24, 2012
Contact:
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
Read the original release from Tennessee Wildlife Federation here.
Nashville, TN — The Conservation Fund took home two honors at this year's annual Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) Conservation Achievement Awards.
Each year since 1965, TWF has honored a select group of leaders in the conservation and stewardship of wildlife and their habitat in Tennessee. "These awards recognize those individuals and organizations that have made truly meaningful contributions to conservation in Tennessee and to TWF," says Michael Butler, the Federation's chief executive officer. "The current generation is building upon the great work of our past winners, and we are proud to honor their contributions."
The Rocky Fork Partnership—a collective effort between the Fund, the U.S. Forest Service, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy among others to protect one of the largest unprotected tracts in the Southern Appalachian Mountains—was named Conservation Organization of the Year for leading an effort to raise $40 million to protect the iconic Rocky Fork tract of land in the Cherokee National Forest.
The Z. Cartter Patten Award—TWF’s highest honor—went to Rex Boner, vice president and southeast representative for The Conservation Fund.
Working in partnership with other conservation organizations and agencies, the Fund has protected more than six million acres of forestland, wildlife habitat, wetlands and historic sites, including nearly 155,000 acres in Tennessee. Boner has contributed to the purchase of 4,000 acres on the Wolf River, the protection of 75,000 acres of the Cumberland Forest adjacent to the Royal Blue WMA, the purchase of the Cumberland Trail State Park Corridor and the acquisition of the 10,000 acres in Rocky Fork, Tennessee.
Click here to learn more about our work in Tennessee.
Photo: Greg Hutson
April 20, 2012
Contact:
Tom MacKenzie, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (404) 679-7281, tom_mackenzie@fws.gov
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
Morehouse Parish, La. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and The Conservation Fund announced today the completion of a multi-year project to add nearly 4,000 acres of mixed farmland and timberland to Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northeastern Louisiana. This action secures the largest remaining inholding for the Refuge, enabling more effective management of the area for wildlife habitat and public recreation.
Located along the Ouachita River at the Louisiana-Arkansas border, the Upper Ouachita NWR provides a seasonal haven for tens of thousands of migratory ducks and geese, including mallards, pintails, wood ducks and snow geese, which visit the refuge every year for resting, foraging and breeding. The permanent conservation of this bottomland area as part of the Refuge will also offer new opportunities for hunting and bird-watching on designated sections.
“This additional land will benefit many wildlife species like wintering waterfowl, the endangered Louisiana black bear, and other migratory birds,” said Cynthia Dohner, the Service’s Southeast Regional Director. “Our partnership with The Conservation Fund is long and particularly beneficial to fish and wildlife conservation in the Lower Mississippi Delta. These lands will be protected and managed to provide quality habitat for these wildlife species.”
Thanks to the dedicated support of Senator Mary Landrieu, the United States Congress approved funding for the purchase of the property through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a federal land protection program that receives funds from the development of federally-owned offshore oil and gas resources. No taxpayer dollars are used to support the LWCF, which has been protecting forests, natural resources, state and local parks and recreation areas since 1965. In addition, the NWR received allocations from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which is derived largely from the sale of migratory bird hunting licenses and Duck Stamps, to complete the acquisition.
“These additional acres are critical for the refuge’s success," said Sen. Landrieu. “Protecting this land improves the overall quality of our local environment, provides a home for thousands of migratory birds, and expands the area available for outdoor recreation and sport that Louisianans love, such as hunting, hiking and bird watching.”
The addition to the Refuge was part of a 16,000-acre area that was converted to agriculture in the 1960s, along the Ouachita River known as Mollicy Farms. Over the past decade, the Service and its conservation partners have slowly assembled the patchwork of parcels necessary to protect and then restore the entire acreage to its natural landscape.
Through donations from its voluntary carbon offset program, Go Zero®, The Conservation Fund and its partners have begun to restore the property’s historical hardwood forest habitat by planting native oak, pecan and hickory trees. This gold level validated effort, under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards, is entering its second year of fundraising to secure the planting of more than 785,000 trees on approximately 2,600 acres. As the forest matures, it will trap carbon dioxide, slow floodwaters and restore key habitat for the American bald eagle and the federally threatened Louisiana black bear.
“Every tree that we plant at the Mollicy Farms unit of the Refuge plays an integral role in restoring the natural hydrology of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, which in this case is the Ouachita River,” said Ray Herndon, Louisiana state director for The Conservation Fund. “This is one of the largest floodplain restoration efforts in the nation, designed to improve habitat for migrating wildlife and slow floodwaters before they reach communities and businesses downstream. We’re proud of the mud on our boots and know that there is more work to be done to protect and reforest this special place.”
“The Conservation Fund and its Go Zero program are helping the National Wildlife Refuge System protect valuable habitats for the benefit of wildlife and the American people,” said Joseph McGowan, Upper Ouachita’s refuge manager.
The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program works with companies and individuals to help reduce and then offset the carbon footprint of everyday activities, such as the CO2 emissions resulting from an in-town or cross-country move with U-Haul, a flight purchased from Travelocity, a package shipped from Gaiam or the electricity it takes to power a Dell notebook for three years. Customer donations help plant native trees in protected parks and wildlife refuges, like Upper Ouachita NWR, which will capture and store carbon over time, while also creating forest habitats that are critical to birds, fish, bears and other wildlife. To calculate your own carbon footprint and make a donation, click here.
Photo courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Hundreds of thousands of dedicated individuals, Accenture Supply Chain Academy, Biolage, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Cadbury Adams USA, Cbox, Conde Nast Publications, CSX Corporation, Dell Computer Corporation, Emkay, Ernest Maier, Gaiam, Greif, Indianapolis Colts, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Krypton Products LLC, Kumon University, Land Rover Portland, Lee County Board of County Commissioners, L'Oreal USA, MaCher, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, Molinaro Koger, Momentum Group, New Jersey Natural Gas, Organic, Inc., Philadelphia Eagles, Premiere TV, Reverb, San Diego State University, SEAT Planners Incorporated, Susquehanna Business Development, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, The North Face, Training Resources Group, Travelocity, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U-Haul International, Vulcan, Way Basics, William McDonough & Partners, World Class Charters, Inc.
April 19, 2012
Contact:
Sabrina Glavan, Mercedes-Benz USA, sabrina.glavan@mbusa.com
Jena Meredith, The Conservation Fund, jmeredith@conservationfund.org
Germantown, NY — In a classic red barn in upstate New York, near the banks of the Hudson River, Jason Roskey makes the kind of furniture you remember. With a creative hand and environmental conscience, Roskey turns salvaged walnut and maple into exquisite tables, chests and soon-to-be heirlooms. His Fern Studios works directly with arborists to give damaged or discarded wood a second chance. Now, this craftsman is getting a chance of his own.
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and the nonprofit Conservation Fund have joined forces to back Fern Studios with a $7,500 loan, intended to foster the company’s vision for creating hand-crafted artisan furniture made from sustainably sourced American hardwoods.
Programs like Kiva popularized the concept of microloans for global entrepreneurs, but small green businesses in the U.S. are still significantly underfunded. That's where The Conservation Fund's newest loan program, ShadeFundTM, comes in. ShadeFund raises capital through organizational donations for small loans to green entrepreneurs across the U.S. Mercedes-Benz, the inaugural corporate sponsor of this new effort, plans to announce up to nine Mercedes-Benz Signature ShadeFund Entrepreneurs as benefactors this year.
Entrepreneurs are selected in a number of categories, including sustainable farms, forestry and forest products, ecotourism and energy efficiency. ShadeFund loans range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on need and project size.
"Mercedes-Benz has a long track record of creating technologies and processes that are beneficial to the environment, and we clearly see a connection in funding small green businesses. Many entrepreneurs breed innovation and with the right resources can have an impact on society," said Bernie Glaser vice president, marketing, MBUSA. "The ShadeFund plays an important role in funding businesses like Fern Studios to help further their growth and future success."
Fern was established in 2009 to create heirloom-quality furniture that is made from sustainably sourced American hardwoods. Fern traces its roots back to the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, where Roskey first rented space and woodworking equipment to pursue his vision. Today, Roskey and his wife Maggie Goudsmit create and market the Fern collection to New York and California based studios from their small farm—complete with its rustic red barn workshop—in Germantown, NY.
“As the designer and maker of all of our products, I understand that producing heirloom-quality hardwood furniture in a responsible way is expensive,” said Roskey. “We are actively trying to raise capital to continue to upgrade our equipment so we can keep up with increasing production demands. Being selected as the newest Mercedes-Benz Signature ShadeFund Entrepreneur means we now have access to funding to really grow, and hopefully the exposure we need to keep ramping up sales well beyond 2012.”
“Green entrepreneurs are the future of American business,” said ShadeFund’s director, Rick Larson. “Unfortunately, even the most creditworthy small businesses have a hard time getting loans today, and green entrepreneurs face an especially steep challenge because their business models are unfamiliar to traditional financial institutions. Most banks simply don't make small loans to young companies. We launched ShadeFund to fill the gap.”
Roskey uses primarily claro walnut and Eastern hardwoods for his creations. Each piece of wood is sustainably sourced; the claro walnut comes from deteriorating orchards in California and the hardwoods include black walnut, oak, cherry and maple, which are often urban removal trees harvested due to disease or weather damage. Much of Fern’s traditional lumber inventory comes from Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)-certified sawmills in New Jersey and Ohio, and a portion is found via urban removal arborists in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Oregon and Northern California.
Fern Studios was profiled in the New York Times Home and Garden section and this national, high-profile exposure led to a number of recent commissions. Fern’s work was featured at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show March 22-25 in Manhattan.
Established by The Conservation Fund with a lead grant from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, ShadeFund accepts donations to help green entrepreneurs grow their businesses and create jobs via small loans to U.S.-based businesses who use natural resources responsibly. Once the entrepreneurs repay their loans, those same dollars will be recycled to empower new investments in green endeavors again and again. The first two Mercedes-Benz Signature ShadeFund Entrepreneurs were Connecticut-based City Bench and Bluebird Hill Farm out of North Carolina.
To apply for a ShadeFund loan or support Fern Studios, visit: www.shadefund.org.
Photos courtesy of Fern Studios
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar. MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.
April 5, 2012
Contact:
Ann Barrett, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809; abarrett@conservationfund.org
As Earth Day approaches on April 22, The Conservation Fund is honored to be named to Charity Navigator’s 10th Anniversary List of Top 10 Charities.
As one of America’s most effective environmental nonprofits, the Fund is known for combining a passion for conservation with an entrepreneurial spirit. With a no-frills budget—no membership, endowment or big overhead costs—the Fund’s dedicated team of 130 has spent 26 years fanning out across the country, working with willing landowners and community, government and corporate leaders to conserve 7 million acres of land, across more than 2,000 projects in all 50 states. From day one, our dual mission has been to preserve land and promote economic development.
Charity Navigator works to guide intelligent giving by providing information on, and evaluating the health of, more than 5,000 charities. The Fund has received Charity Navigator’s highest possible ranking—four stars—for seven years in a row, an “exceptional” designation that indicates the Fund outperforms most other charities in America and consistently executes our mission in a fiscally responsible way. Among conservation nonprofits, we allocate the highest amount (97%) of our resources toward mission and the lowest (1%) toward fundraising.
Our success would not be possible without the support of our donors and partners, who believe, as we do, that effective land conservation makes good economic sense. Together, we continue to invest in America’s future.
Photo: Todd Kaplan
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Powered by: Phase2 TechnologyThe Conservation Fund National Office
1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, Virginia 22209-3199
Phone: 703-525-6300
Fax: 703-525-4610
Email: postmaster@conservationfund.org
