Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan
The Conservation Fund
(703) 908-5809
Washington, DC — David Hartwell, president and founder of Minneapolis-based Bellcomb Technologies Incorporated, was one of four honorees to receive national recognition for outstanding achievement in greenways and open space preservation at the 21st annual Kodak American Greenways Awards, presented at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“On behalf of the Kodak American Greenways Program, I am particularly pleased to present David Hartwell with an award for his vision of a dedicated source for land and water conservation funding and his tireless leadership in seeing a citizen-led initiative through to success for the benefit of all Minnesotans present and future,” said The Conservation Fund’s president and CEO, Larry Selzer.
Alarmed by Minnesota’s diminishing waters and natural lands, concerned citizens advocated for dedicated funding for land conservation and freshwater protection. Led by Hartwell, this citizen initiative was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2008 and incorporated into Minnesota’s constitution as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. With Hartwell’s vision now etched into the state’s constitution, the provision is expected to raise over $6 billion over the next 25 years for land and water conservation, cultural heritage protection and park and trail enhancement.
The amendment has already succeeded in preserving miles of trails and river corridors, hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat and encouraged Minnesota’s residents and visitors to experience the beauty of their natural environment. Overseen by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which Hartwell was appointed to after passage of the amendment, the Outdoor Heritage Fund of the amendment provided 80 percent of the funding needed for the largest Minnesota land conservation effort ever undertaken, the 187,000-acre Upper Mississippi Forest Project.
“In 2001, the perspective of what qualified as conservation success in Minnesota was rooted in the acceptance of the lack of apparent resources to adequately address the pressures from development,” said Hartwell. “By simply realizing that with a broader and more comprehensive vision of what we could and should accomplish, an alternative future was possible. That vision was ultimately embraced by the voters of the state but along the way, there were so many people who worked and contributed greatly to this effort. The conservation community came together and did something amazing that will change the landscape in our state forever and it was an honor to have their confidence and work shoulder to shoulder with so many dedicated and wonderful people along the way.”
Established in 1989 by Eastman Kodak Company, National Geographic Society and The Conservation Fund, the Kodak American Greenways Program honors leading individuals, organizations and corporations whose ingenuity and creativity have made a significant contribution to creating a national network of open space, trails and greenways.
“Kodak values and is pleased to support local community grassroots initiatives in preserving our nation’s great outdoor heritage,” said Charles Ruffing, Kodak’s director of Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability. “These local initiatives and individuals recognized in the Kodak American Greenways Awards are visible, valuable and never more vital.”
“Greenways not only improve the nation’s ecological health, these natural corridors provide vital opportunities for all Americans to get out, exercise and improve their physical health,” said Gilbert M. Grosvenor, chairman of the National Geographic Society. “With the help of companies like Kodak, the greenways network has linked city streets to parklands and other open spaces. The program still enjoys robust growth as we celebrate 21 years of cooperation.”
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About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6.5 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. We’re a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient. www.conservationfund.org
** Note: David Hartwell is an honored member of the Land Trust Alliance Board of Directors.
]]>Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, (703) 908-5809
The Conservation Fund, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources preserve 2,100 acres along state-designated Wild River
Wausau, WI – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle joined representatives of The Conservation Fund and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today to announce the protection of 2,100 acres along the Totogatic River – one of the few remaining near-wilderness streams in the state.
“These are incredible additions to public lands in Wisconsin that will now be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come,” Governor Doyle said. “Our natural resources are one of the main reasons why people want to live, vacation, and move here. They are why businesses want to locate here. The future of our state is closely linked to our natural resources, and I’m pleased that, today, that future is looking even brighter with the protection of these lands.”
The clear, cool waters of the Totogatic River flow for 70 miles through five counties in northern Wisconsin, forming a wild and pristine stream in the St. Croix River Basin and the Mississippi River watershed. Much of the Totogatic River remains in its natural state, with scenic waterfalls, forested banks and challenging rapids. It earned the state’s designation as a Wild River in 2009 – a designation shared with only four other rivers in the state – which ensures the river’s long-term protection from development threats.
“The Totogatic is an inspiring, wild river,” said Tom Duffus, upper Midwest director for The Conservation Fund. “We applaud DNR for recognizing its importance to the people of the state and the people who live near it. Pristine tributaries to the Mississippi River like the Totogatic play a role in the future of the Gulf of Mexico, even if a small one. We also applaud Wausau Paper Company for its 100 years of stewardship of these lands and its willingness to conserve the river.”
The Conservation Fund facilitated Wisconsin DNR’s purchase from Wausau Paper, headquartered in Mosinee, Wisconsin. The property includes 12 miles of river frontage and provides habitat for more than 20 Species of Greatest Conservation Need identified in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan.
The Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson State Stewardship Fund provided a majority of the funding for the state’s purchase. Additional funding came from The Conservation Fund, through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Upper Midwest Wildlife Initiative, a grant program that funds projects implementing State Wildlife Action Plans for conserving species and habitats of greatest conservation need. The McKnight Foundation, in recognition of the importance of connecting people to the waters of the Mississippi River and conserving pristine areas of the watershed, provided additional financing assistance.
DNR will manage the property and provide public access for hunting, fishing, trapping, canoeing/kayaking and hiking.
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About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. We're a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient. www.conservationfund.org
]]>Contacts
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, (703) 908-5809
Ray Teat, Del-Mar-Va Council Boy Scouts, (302) 622-3300 ext. 115
Bret Scott, Kent County Levy Court, (302)744-2305
Dover, DE – Today, The Conservation Fund, the Del-Mar-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Kent County Levy Court announced the preservation of 138 acres adjacent to Dover – one of the few remaining large undeveloped tracts in close proximity to the city.
“Through a unique partnership, we have preserved this property and created new places for children, residents and visitors to reconnect with nature and experience the great outdoors,” said Blaine Phillips, mid-Atlantic director of The Conservation Fund. “We are grateful to the Kesselring family, the Boy Scouts, the Kent County Levy Court and the Mt. Cuba Center for supporting this effort that will positively impact the quality of life for current and future generations.”
The Conservation Fund purchased the property from the Kesselring family. Eighty-five acres will be transferred to the Del-Mar-Va Council Boy Scouts, which plans to create its peninsula headquarters on the site and conduct youth camping activities. Kent County will acquire the remaining land, about 53 acres, for outdoor recreation and a trail system connecting to a nearby county park.
“This farm has been in the Kesselring family for nearly 110 years, and we’re grateful for this opportunity to take it in a new direction, one that reflects our family’s vision to preserve the land for future generations,” said Jane Kesselring Edwards, on behalf of the Kesselring family. “This perfect collaboration began with the creative leadership of The Conservation Fund, which corralled unique resources and brought the Boy Scouts and Kent County together. It has been our pleasure to work with all these ‘white hats’ who share a common vision, and we appreciate everyone’s tenacious and honorable efforts.”
“This unique holding will offer youth on the peninsula outdoor experiences in a setting completely unlike our other properties,” said Bruce Jones, former board president of the Del-Mar-Va Council Boy Scouts. “This oasis of open space is surrounded by urban development in a key strategic location on major routes of travel from all directions. We look forward to utilizing this land to offer the character building programs of the Boy Scouts of America to our local neighbors and to visitors from across the peninsula.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to see what was once a distant dream become a wonderful reality,” remarked Kent County Administrator Mike Petit de Mange. “This acquisition represents a major addition to a premier community asset at Brecknock County Park, which could not have been possible without the patient and unwavering resolve of the Kesselring family to see this significant land remain as open space. We are also very grateful for our partners at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, The Conservation Fund and the Boy Scouts of America, who have all contributed to make this possible.”
Mt. Cuba Center, a non-profit horticultural institution dedicated to the study of plants native to the Piedmont region and land conservation, provided partial funding for the acquisition. “This acquisition represents the ongoing efforts by the Mt. Cuba Center to protect open space in Delaware,” said Charles Copeland, vice president of Mt Cuba Center. “We are very excited to have been able to work with great partners on a creative approach to conservation that will provide long-term benefits to both the Boy Scouts and the residents of Kent County.”
Additional supporters and partners include Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and Kent County Levy Court.
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About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. We’re a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient.
About the Del-Mar-Va Council, Boy Scouts of America
The Del-Mar-Va Council provides Scouting opportunities throughout the Del-Mar-Va Peninsula, serving approximately 388 units and over 4,500 volunteers who are delivering the promise to over 10,000 youth in traditional Scouting programs. An additional 6,410 youth are being served through the Learning for Life Division of the Council. The Council covers fourteen counties and is divided into 8 Scouting districts.
About Kent County Levy Court
Kent County Levy Court, founded in 1655, is one of the oldest forms of local government in the United States. As the County governing body, Levy Court endeavors to preserve, protect, and enhance community character in Central Delaware by promoting the most appropriate use of land, water, and other resources in the public interest. The County continually strives to achieve and maintain a well balanced, healthy and sustainable landscape for its residents and visitors through a system of comprehensive planning and the provision of essential services including sanitary sewer services, emergency medical services, library services, and parks and recreation facilities and programs.
Contact: Environmental Management Center
Brandywine Conservancy
P.O. Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317
Phone: 610-388-2700
Email: emc@brandywine.org
CHADDS FORD, PA -The Brandywine Conservancy's Environmental Management Center has announced a generous donation of $10,000 from PECO to support the Conservancy's multi-year reforestation project. The funds will be used to plant trees in the Brandywine watershed and for community outreach and educational programs.
The check was presented on June 10 by PECO representative Greg Cary, External Affairs Manager for Chester County.
"Water resource protection and management have been a primary focus of the Brandywine Conservancy since its founding. The simplest and most effective way to protect the region's fresh water and restore lost habitat is to plant trees and re-establish forest. We are grateful to PECO for this grant that will help us continue this vital work," said Sherri Evans-Stanton, director of the Conservancy's Environmental Management Center.
"We're committed to reducing our carbon footprint and preserving the environment. This is one of the many ways we are working with our customers and community partners, to have an even greater environmental impact through grants and educational programs," said Greg Cary, of PECO.
Trees provide food and shelter for life in and around streams, promote absorption of rain into the ground, replenish groundwater supplies, and reduce stormwater runoff and downstream flooding. In addition, tree leaves, branches and roots reduce erosion and prevent excess sediment and nutrients from entering streams during stormwater runoff. Trees also help slow global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing the carbon and then releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
Most of the natural forest in the Brandywine watershed was cleared long ago for agriculture. More recently, housing and commercial development have altered the region. The clear-cutting of trees resulted in the loss of many valuable benefits that forests provide to all forms of life. Because much of this cleared land is no longer actively farmed there are numerous opportunities to re-
establish the forests and restore the watershed to health.
The Brandywine Conservancy holds more than 400 conservation easements and has protected over 43,000 acres in Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania, as well as New Castle County in Delaware. The Environmental Management Center provides conservation services to landowners, farmers, municipalities and developers. The staff of professional planners and natural resource managers offers technical assistance and expertise for conservation and comprehensive land use planning. Conservation easements, assistance to local governments and water protection efforts are the key elements of these programs. In 2008, the Conservancy was among the first land trusts in the country to be awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
For more information about the Conservancy's programs and services, call 610-388-2700 or visit the Conservancy's website at www.brandywineconservancy.org.
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