Conservation Corner: May 24, 1999

International Paper To Be Commended
by James L. Cummins

To commemorate 100 years of operation, International Paper has donated two tracts of land in coastal Mississippi to The Conservation Fund. The donation includes a 950 acre conservation easement, which consists of a 300-foot buffer along the Wolf River in Harrison County and a fee simple donation of 1,700 acres near Moss Point in Jackson County.

According to George A. O'brien, Vice-President of International Paper's Forest Resources Division, "Since our company derives a significant amount of its shareholder value from our sustainably managed forest lands, it is appropriate for us to look for unique environmental and ecological holdings and set them aside permanently for the benefit of all Americans, now and in the future."

The property in Moss Point has been owned by International Paper since 1951. It is home to two threatened or endangered species - the bald eagle and the gopher tortoise. The land will eventually be added to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important, undisturbed sites on the Gulf Coast. It is open to the public for wildlife viewing, education and research.

The conservation along the Wolf River runs for 15 miles along both sides of the pristine waters that meander through the pine belt of Southeast Mississippi. International Paper owns 25,000 acres in the Wolf River watershed.

Ed Locke, International Paper's Moss Point mill manager, said, "International Paper shares the values held by The Conservation Fund which made them an ideal recipient of these lands. They are committed to protecting America's land and water resources while simultaneously balancing both economic and environmental interests, an approach to conservation that we wholeheartedly support."

The Conservation Fund, a national, non-profit conservation organization, which is much like the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, seeks sustainable conservation solutions for the 21st century by emphasizing the integration of economic and environmental goals. Through land conservation, education and community-based activities, the Fund designs innovative, long-term measures to conserve land and water resources. Since inception, the Fund has forged partnerships to protect America's outdoor heritage and establish a legacy for future generations.

International Paper is a producer of printing paper, packaging and forest products. It operates specialty businesses in global markets as well as a broadly-based distribution network. The company has operations in 31 countries and employs 80,000 people.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.