Public-Private Partnership Helps Fight Climate Change, Restore Habitat with 234,000 Trees at Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge

PLEASANTON, Kan., June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives from Allstate,Cambridge Systematics, Delta Air Lines and U-Haul International joined TheConservation Fund (the Fund) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) today toannounce the restoration of 775 acres of forestland at Marais des CygnesNational Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Kansas City. The new oak, hickory andpecan trees will restore sensitive wildlife habitat, enhance public recreationareas and address climate change by trapping more than 230,000 tons of carbondioxide as the trees grow.

'The World Bank estimates that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions is causedby deforestation,' said The Conservation Fund's Go Zero director, JenaThompson. 'Thanks to the extraordinary leadership of our partners, theexpertise of Environmental Synergy Inc. (ESI), and the commitment of the FWS,we are raising much needed capital to address the most pressing environmentalchallenges of our time-climate change and habitat loss-by restoring thesecritical forestlands.'

Private support for the initiative was made possible via a mix ofdonations from corporations, foundations and individual donors -- over 30partners in total -- to The Conservation Fund's Go Zero(SM) program. Go Zeroworks with companies and individuals to help reduce and then offset the carbonfootprint of almost any activity, such as the electricity it takes to power aDell notebook, the fuel from an international flight on Delta Air Lines, orthe gas that is used during a move with U-Haul.

To help trap the carbon dioxide that results from these activities, theFund works with the FWS to identify protected natural areas where it can plantnative trees that will restore ecosystems for wildlife and people alike.

'The Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to do its part to address theglobal climate change issues,' said Jay Slack, deputy regional director,Mountain Prairie Region. 'We are equally proud to be able to do this with TheConservation Fund and its numerous corporate partners. Conservation of ournatural resources and protection of the global environment is everyone'sresponsibility.'

Delta launched its partnership with the Fund in 2007 as part of its Forcefor Global Good. 'Delta is committed to affecting positive environmentalchange on a global scale,' said Jaime Jewell, general manager of marketing forDelta Air Lines.

'Our partnership with the Fund has helped us continue our mission in avery visual and lasting way.