BALTIMORE, MD—Employees at Alcoa’s Gum Springs, Arkansas, plant received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) 19th Annual Symposium, The Value of Green taking place this week in Baltimore. Alcoa demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and increasing native biodiversity by achieving the WHC’s Wildlife at WorkSM recertification at the Gum Springs facility.
“For 20 years, the Wildlife Habitat Council has led ground-breaking initiatives on more than two million acres of land for the benefit of wildlife and conservation education,” said Robert Johnson, WHC President. “WHC members embrace their role as leaders in environmental stewardship at the local, national and global level, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and sustainable societies. Congratulations to Alcoa for stepping up to meet the challenges of creating a healthy and biodiverse natural world.”
Alcoa’s Gum Springs plant is a 1,500-acre site located in Clark County, Arkansas. As part of Alcoa’s corporate strategy and commitment to environmental conservation and education, a wildlife habitat enhancement program was formally started in January 2001. The wildlife team initiated an avian species management program, which focuses on constructing artificial nest boxes and maintaining and documenting the activity of bird populations. The team partnered with a local elementary school to mount additional bluebird boxes, and currently maintains 18 active nest boxes.
Wildlife team members planted additional wildlife food sources and created brush piles to provide more suitable habitat for wildlife species that are regularly seen on site. In 2002, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Alcoa and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, DeGray Lake Field Office to assist in the development of a network of food plots on the Gum Springs property. Since then, three 5-acre plots are planted with various wildlife food sources.
In addition, the Alcoa wildlife team implemented a new bat management program for educational and mosquito control purposes. The team installed bat houses and monitors them routinely.
“Through the support of Alcoa and the volunteer efforts of the employees of Gum Springs, we continue to demonstrate our belief and support of Alcoa Values regarding responsible stewardship of the environment and enhancement to the communities in which we operate,” said Lyn Shepherd, Environment, Health & Safety Manager for Alcoa Gum Springs.
The Gum Springs Plant was one of 173 sites recognized at the 2007 Symposium for creating a Wildlife at WorkSM program. In addition, 69 Corporate Lands for LearningSM programs reach thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. Since 1990, WHC has certified 432 programs worldwide. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoaâ wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The company has 116,000 employees in 44 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com
Celebrating 20 years in conversation, the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than 2.4 million acres in 46 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org.
