Margaret O’Gorman Named to the Environmental Leader and Energy Manager 2019 Environment + Energy 100

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SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 14, 2019 – Margaret O’Gorman, President of the Wildlife Habitat Council has been named to the Environment + Energy Leader 100 by Environmental Leader and Energy Manager.

The Environment and Energy Leader 100 (E + E 100) is an annual program developed and run by Environmental Leader and Energy Manager Today recognizing leaders, innovators, shaker-uppers and doers in the environmental and energy management space.

“We are excited to announce the 2019 Honorees and celebrate the accomplishments of this elite class,” said Jennifer Hermes, Content Director of Business Sector Media. “The Environment + Energy Leader 100 program has doubled in growth since its inception and this year we are thrilled to recognize one hundred honorees that helped drive a product, program, company or the energy, environmental and sustainability industry as a whole.”

Honorees are nominated by peers and selected based on their impact on the industry or the company in which they work. They will be celebrated at the fourth annual Environmental Leader & Energy Manager Conference (ELEMCON), to take place May 13-15, 2019, at the Marriott Denver Tech Center.

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council partners with corporations, fellow conservation organizations, government agencies and community members to empower and recognize wildlife habitat and conservation education programs. Our members are environmental leaders at local, national and global levels, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them. Since 1988, WHC has certified more than 1,000 habitat and education programs worldwide; WHC Conservation Certification programs can be found in 47 states and 28 countries. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org or follow @WildlifeHC on Twitter.

For More Information

Monica Keller  |  Wildlife Habitat Council  |  240.247.0930

What Will Your Role Be? – A Conservation Conference Recap

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During last month’s 2018 WHC Conservation Conference, WHC President Margaret O’Gorman ended her opening remarks by asking the audience, What will your role be?

It was an apropos question for this group of almost 500 corporate executives, CSR and EHS professionals, and site managers gathered to further their respective company’s biodiversity, corporate sustainability and community relations goals.

During her annual State of Corporate Conservation address, Margaret celebrated three decades of change within the corporate community as it relates to the environment, and noted that while the corporate actions of the past created the situation of the present, corporate actions today will create the future.

“I think towards a time where the sustainability strategies mainstreamed inside the corporate workplace now mainstream nature outside, where corporate landowners’ contributions to recovery and restoration efforts bring back the color of biodiversity in urban, suburban, rural and wilderness areas and where finally the old arguments and divisions that have kept the private sector and civil society at loggerheads are settled and we’re all operating in a world of mutual respect, mutual benefit and productive conservation efforts.”

The degree of participation and enthusiasm shown by attendees throughout the two-day event was evidence of a willingness and hunger to participate in the environment in a positive manner. While the latest reports from the IPCC and the IPBES make for grim reading, the theme of the Conference was to take heart and create action in the emerging recognition of the importance of nature-based solutions as both mitigation pathways and adaptation strategies for climate, which will also result in co-benefits for people and planet.

Attendees from across industry sectors and corporate functions heard from their peers about innovative efforts happening on corporate lands that led to robust biodiversity outcomes and increased mainstreaming of efforts from ad hoc to strategic. Phillips 66 talked about its project to connect gas stations to the company’s overall biodiversity goal by encouraging native plantings at these unlikely locations; Exelon shared its methodology to create strategic plans for conservation, and a panel of corporate executives from Covia, Ontario Power Generation and Toyota introduced the mining, utility and car company of the future, showing how innovation in both technology and thought was spurring deep change for companies and consumers.

Partner organizations Bat Conservation International, the U.S. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Pollinator Partnership, among others, provided content to the breakout sessions and presented their work in the exhibit hall beside consultants and government agencies promoting their programs to the attendees.

The most talked about event at the conference was rapper Baba Brinkman and his Rap Guide to Climate Chaos. Performed at the Paris Climate Conference and to popular acclaim off-Broadway, his energetic performance laid out the politics, economics and science of climate change, pulling no punches in its direct message to a very unique audience.

The core of WHC’s Conservation Conference is celebration. Over 20 awards were presented during the conference including three top awards that recognize corporate commitment to biodiversity. This year, DTE Energy received the 2018 Corporate Conservation Leadership Award for the depth and breadth of its commitment to biodiversity. The Employee Engagement Award was presented to Exelon in recognition of the strength and commitment of its employee teams participating in its habitat and conservation education activities. General Motors received the 2018 Gold Program Award for its conservation efforts at the GM Canada CAMI Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. These awards were presented during an often raucous but intensely celebratory dinner where Baba Brinkman returned for a wrap-up rap of the Conference happenings.

With 30 years under its belt, this event displayed clearly to WHC that there is an ever-growing audience of corporations across all industry sectors who are eager to make a difference in whatever way possible. They know that successful efforts at the site level will drive change for conservation action across entire organizations, and they know the answer to the question, What will your role be?

Read more WHC blogs.

FCA US Joins Forces with WHC to Create Positive Conservation Outcomes | WHC now lists three of the top automakers in the world as members

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SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 15, 2017 – Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) announces FCA US LLC as its newest member, joining General Motors, Toyota and 80 other national and international companies who are committed to managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.

Through WHC membership, FCA US will work with WHC to restore and enhance wildlife habitat at select FCA US properties across North America. The automaker’s conservation activities will be part of the collective positive impact of WHC members around the globe, currently in 48 U.S. states and 18 countries.

“FCA has long been recognized among the world’s leading companies for combined economic, environmental and social performance,” said Margaret O’Gorman, President, Wildlife Habitat Council. “As such, we share in the belief that corporate conservation is vital to advancing biodiversity, and we look forward to working with FCA US to continue to take a leading role in maintaining ecosystems while engaging employees and furthering community relations.”

“Our membership in the Wildlife Habitat Council reflects FCA’s approach to biodiversity, which combines employee engagement with a deep commitment to conserving our natural resources,” said Greg Rose, Director, Environmental Health and Safety, FCA US LLC. “The FCA US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan is a perfect example of how corporate lands can be conceived and developed with nature and wildlife in mind.”

When the Chrysler World Headquarters and Technology Center (CTC) was designed more than 25 years ago, one of the specific goals in the master plan was to preserve the natural environment. Today, the automaker manages the 504-acre site to ensure the freshwater ponds, the 100-acres of natural wetlands, riparian areas, and grasslands are preserved. The expansive wooded setting is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, wood ducks, cottontail rabbits, Blanding’s turtles, Monarch butterflies and bats.

The FCA US headquarters has been certified by WHC Conservation Certification since April 2015.

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council partners with corporations, their employees, fellow conservation organizations, government agencies and community members to recognize and encourage wildlife habitat projects for conservation, education and recreation. Our members are environmental leaders at local, national and global levels, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them. Since 1988, WHC has certified more than 1,000 habitat enhancement and conservation education programs worldwide. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org or follow @WildlifeHC on Twitter.

About FCA US LLC

FCA US LLC is a North American automaker based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It designs, manufactures, and sells or distributes vehicles under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, FIAT and Alfa Romeo brands, as well as the SRT performance designation. The Company also distributes Mopar and Alfa Romeo parts and accessories. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler Corp., established in 1925 by industry visionary Walter P. Chrysler and Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.), founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. (NYSE: FCAU/ MTA: FCA).

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”

For More Information

Monica Keller  |  Wildlife Habitat Council  |  240.247.0930

Kaileen Connelly   |  FCA US LLC  |  248.512.2927

  

New White Paper Studies the Environmental and Economic Benefits of Incorporating Conservation into a Remediation Process

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SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 18, 2017 – Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) announces a new white paper available for download today, Transforming Remediation Sites into Conservation Assets — How Companies Leverage Business Needs for Positive Environmental Outcomes. The white paper is available for free at on our website.

This white paper demonstrates how companies involved in remediation are moving beyond meeting regulatory requirements and increasingly adopting conservation-based approaches to site cleanup and reuse. In doing so, they are not simply returning sites to their former states, but leveraging conservation to transform liabilities into ecological, community and corporate assets.

Transforming Remediation Sites into Conservation Assets highlights case studies of various strategies WHC members have taken in advancing biodiversity on cleanup sites to create wildlife habitat, support local conservation priorities, and build green spaces for the community. Case studies include:

  • Improving public perception: CSX Transportation
  • Using biodiversity restoration to reduce costs: Bridgestone Americas
  • Providing green spaces for education and recreation: Motorola Solutions
  • Managing a restricted site with an event-based approach: Chemours
  • Meeting community needs through site reuse: BASF

Sponsored by The Boeing Company, this white paper includes a foreword by Steve Shestag, Director, Environment, Environment, Health & Safety, The Boeing Company, in which he states, “In our pursuit of global environmental leadership, we champion the value of going above and beyond compliance. Put quite simply, our goal is to leave places better than we found them.”

Wildlife Habitat Council thanks The Boeing Company for their sponsorship of this white paper.

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. Through a focus on building collaboration for conservation with corporate employees, other conservation organizations, government agencies and community members, WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 48 states and 17 countries. www.wildlifehc.org

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Corporations Recognized for Conservation Excellence at 2016 WHC Conservation Conference

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SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 – Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) announced the winners of its 2016 WHC Awards at the 2016 WHC Conservation Conference, held November 2-3 in Baltimore. The WHC Awards honor excellence in corporate conservation; recipients include both national and international companies across a variety of industry sectors. This year’s top awards, signifying leadership in conservation, were won by General Motors and CEMEX.

“Recognizing corporate conservation is at the heart of our organization, and it is exemplified by the work of General Motors, CEMEX and all of our award winners,” said Margaret O’Gorman, President, WHC. “These outstanding projects and programs are prime examples of the positive influence and impact that corporate conservation can have on biodiversity, local communities and employees.”

General Motors received the 2016 Corporate Conservation Leadership Award and the 2016 Employee Engagement Award. The Corporate Conservation Leadership Award honors one company’s overall achievement in conservation efforts, and signifies an exemplary level of corporate commitment to biodiversity and conservation education, and meaningful alignments with global conservation objectives. The Employee Engagement Award recognizes a company’s involvement in conservation through the sheer force of its employee teams who participate in its habitat and conservation education activities.

CEMEX was the year’s most honored company, picking up not only the 2016 Gold Tier Program Award for its conservation efforts at the El Carmen ecological reserve, but also Project Awards in the following categories: Awareness and Community Engagement (CEMEX, Atotonilco); Desert, Forest, Mammals and Species of Concern (CEMEX, El Carmen).

The Gold Program Award honors the overall conservation depth of one exceptional program. Projects are recognized for excellence in each of the WHC Project Guidance themes. This category offers projects of all sizes the ability to compete for recognition. Learn more about the Project Award criteria at here. The following is a complete list of 2016 Project Award winners:

  • Avian: Freeport-McMoRan, Safford Operations
  • Awareness and Community Engagement: CEMEX, Atotonilco
  • Bats: DTE Energy, Muskegon Service Center
  • Desert: CEMEX, El Carmen
  • Forest: CEMEX, El Carmen
  • Formal Learning: General Motors, Vancouver Parts Distribution Centre
  • Grasslands: Freeport-McMoRan, Tyrone
  • Green Infrastructure: ITC Holdings, Wayland Warehouse
  • Integrated Vegetation Management: Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation, El Cerrito
  • Invasive Species: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Farley Nuclear Plant
  • Invasive Species Coordinated Approaches: LafargeHolcim, Lafarge Texada Quarry
  • Landscaping: California Resources Corporation, THUMS Islands
  • Mammals: CEMEX, El Carmen
  • Pollinators: Oldcastle Materials, Oldcastle Nature Trail at the Marcus Autism Center
  • Reptiles and Amphibians: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Farley Nuclear Plant
  • Species of Concern: CEMEX, El Carmen
  • Training: Buzzi Unicem USA, Wildlife Habitat and Outdoor Classroom, Pryor, OK
  • Wetlands and Water Bodies: CSX Transportation, Nocatee Site
  • Xeric Shrubland: Bridgestone Americas, Bridgestone Neumaticos de Monterrey

Award finalists and winners were chosen from Conservation Certification applications submitted from January 1, 2016 – August 1, 2016 that were granted certification. Applications received after August 1, 2016 and applications what were in the appeals process in 2016 will be considered for the 2017 WHC Awards. Information on award criteria can be found at on our website.

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC Conservation Certification programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. Through a focus on building collaboration for conservation with corporate employees, other conservation organizations, government agencies and community members, WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 48 states and 17 countries. www.wildlifehc.org

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Reimagining the Corporate Campus

New White Paper Examines Opportunities for the Corporate Campus to Benefit Biodiversity, Employees and Communities

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SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 19, 2016 – Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) announces a new white paper available for download today, Reimagining the Corporate Campus, Creating Impactful Outcomes that Benefit Biodiversity and Communities. The white paper is available for free at www.wildlifehc.org/whitepapers.

The white paper demonstrates how new and existing corporate campuses can incorporate nature in their designs and realize the cost savings of native landscaping, the human benefits of a more natural setting, and the opportunity to restore productive habitat and reconnect a fragmented suburban landscape.

Reimagining the Corporate Campus highlights case studies of various strategies WHC members have taken that have proven successful in advancing biodiversity on a corporate landscape. Case studies include:

  • Reduced mowing: DuPont, General Motors
  • Native landscaping: Benjamin Moore, Ricoh Americas
  • Conservation education: Bayer Corporation
  • Avian nesting habitat: Bristol-Myers Squibb, The Dow Chemical Company
  • Stray and feral cat control: Exelon Corporation
  • Invasive species control: Pfizer

In addition, this new white paper complements a General Session and Workshop on Day 2 of the WHC Conservation Conference, starting at 8 a.m., Thursday, November 3 at the Baltimore Hilton. Registration information can be found here.

The General Session, ”Reimagining the Corporate Campus,” will be presented by Claudia West, Landscape Designer and Author, and Naomi Edelson, Senior Director, Wildlife Partnerships, National Wildlife Federation. The session will be introduced by Derek Fairclough, Senior Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety, BASF Corporation. Mr. Fairclough will also present the 2016 Wildlife Habitat Council Landscaping Award to one of the following finalists: California Resources Corporation; General Motors and ITC Holdings.

Wildlife Habitat Council thanks BASF Corporation for their sponsorship of this white paper.

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. Through a focus on building collaboration for conservation with corporate employees, other conservation organizations, government agencies and community members, WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 48 states, the District of Columbia and 17 countries. www.wildlifehc.org

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Collaborations for Conservation: Keystone Policy Center honors WHC, GM and Toyota as national leaders in sustainability

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SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 8, 2016 – The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), along with its members General Motors and Toyota Motor North America, have been jointly honored with the 23rd Annual Keystone Policy Center Leadership in Environment Award, recognizing their partnership to expand wildlife habitat, support pollinator health, and enhance biodiversity around the world.

Accepting the award will be Margaret O’Gorman, President, WHC; Kevin Butt, Regional Director, Toyota North American environmental division; and Greg Martin, Executive Director, Global Public Policy, General Motors Company.

“We’re honored to share this award with General Motors and Toyota,” said O’Gorman. “Only 10 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies have adopted biodiversity goals, including GM and Toyota, and as such, their efforts towards conservation and biodiversity across the globe are exemplary models for other corporations to follow.”

The Keystone Policy Center, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization founded in 1975, also presented the following awards at a dinner ceremony at The Newseum in Washington, D.C. on June 8, 2016:

  • Spirit of Keystone Award to John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund
  • The Founder’s Award to Ken Powell, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of General Mills
  • Leadership in Energy to the 51st State, an Initiative of the Smart Electric Power Alliance
  • Leadership in Government to U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire
  • Leadership in the Public Interest to Judy Woodruff, co-anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour
  • Dignitaries, including Bob Perciasepe, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Edward Gabriel, former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Environmental Defense Fund’s Fred Krupp, The Nature Conservancy’s Glenn Prickett, and Shelby Coffey III, Vice Chairman of The Newseum

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC’s programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. WHC membership includes 85 corporations, many of which are Fortune 500 companies, including Bridgestone, Chevron, DuPont, Exelon, Freeport-McMoRan, General Motors, Pacific Gas & Electric and Waste Management. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states and 13 countries. www.wildlifehc.org

About Keystone Policy Center

The Keystone Policy Center has worked at the forefront of public policy and dispute resolution for more than 40 years. From energy to education and health to sustainability, Keystone’s work has shaped public policy debates at local, state, and national levels. Keystone’s exceptional combination of experience and expertise have led to groundbreaking progress and lasting solutions when all other efforts have failed. www.keystone.org

About General Motors

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world’s top automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through their Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment.  As part of this commitment, we share the company’s extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

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Conservation Certification Website is Live – Users may now register their conservation projects and submit applications

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SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 4, 2016 – Today, Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) made available its new certification website and online application for WHC Conservation Certification.

Users are able to go online and register, add projects, upload documentation, submit applications and make payments. This new, entirely virtual application experience allows for greater productivity and organization of conservation projects, and allows users to focus on biodiversity activities instead of paperwork.

Over three years in development, WHC Conservation Certification recognizes meaningful and committed conservation programs on corporate lands, and replaces WHC’s previous certification programs, Wildlife at Work and Corporate Lands for Learning.

“WHC Conservation Certification provides a clear and consistent path towards high quality projects that bring value to the environment and business,” said Margaret O’Gorman, President, Wildlife Habitat Council. “Recognition of corporate conservation practices can help companies meet global biodiversity goals while demonstrating long-term commitment to managing habitat for wildlife, education and community engagement.”

“We’re excited to participate in Conservation Certification,” said WHC Board Chair Kevin Butt, Director, North American Environmental Division, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. “Not only will the new website help better organize our conservation activities, but Conservation Certification provides an important suite of metrics that can assist in our reporting of sustainability goals.”

Built around 26 possible habitat, species and education projects encompassed in the newly published Project Guidances, Conservation Certification is designed to be accessible, flexible, credible, and ultimately drive change on corporate lands of all types. Project Guidances define the components of an outstanding conservation effort, and were developed with the collective knowledge of experts from academia, government, corporations, consulting firms and NGOs.

To make the transition from paper to web an easy one, WHC is offering free training webinars to walk users through the functions of the website. All on-demand training webinars are available here.

 

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC’s programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. WHC membership includes 85 corporations, many of which are Fortune 500 companies, including Bridgestone, Chevron, DuPont, Exelon, Freeport-McMoRan, General Motors, Pacific Gas & Electric and Waste Management. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states and 13 countries.

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Wildlife Habitat Council, Freeport-McMoRan and Oldcastle Leadership Selected to Speak at GreenBiz ’16

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PHOENIX, JANUARY 13, 2016 – Margaret O’Gorman, President, Wildlife Habitat Council has been selected as a featured speaker at the GreenBiz 16, to be held February 23-25, 2016. O’Gorman, along with Hillary A. Johnson, Community Relations Director, Oldcastle, Inc., and William E. Cobb, Vice President, Environmental Services, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., will present on how to effectively incorporate conservation programs into corporate strategies.

For the third year, the Forum will bring together GreenBiz Group, The Sustainability Consortium, and the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability at ASU to give attendees an unparalleled in-depth look at the key challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business today. The ninth annual edition of the State of Green Business report, combined with high-wattage stage presentations, workshops and networking opportunities will make the 2016 GreenBiz Forum an unforgettable event.

O’Gorman, Johnson and Cobb will be a part of the session, “The New Standard in Corporate Conservation: Embracing Accessibility, Enhancing Credibility and Driving Change.” The workshop will address on-the-ground conservation programs that enhance biodiversity and promote corporate goals, including those related to social responsibility, sustainability, employee engagement, community relations and STEM education. Attendees will benefit from the panel’s experience in aligning voluntary sustainability standards with contemporary conservation priorities and actions, and how to use data and results allow for evaluation of impact.

View speaker bios.

Presentation Details

What: The New Standard in Corporate Conservation: Embracing Accessibility, Enhancing Credibility and Driving Change

When: Wednesday, February 24, 2016, 4:30pm

Where: The JW Marriott Camelback Inn, 5402 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Produced by media company GreenBiz Group, the GreenBiz Forum will also feature The Sustainability Consortium CEO, Sheila Bonini; Ellen MacArthur Foundation Founder, Ellen MacArthur; Project Drawdown Founder, Paul Hawken; Biomimicry Institute Founder, Janine Benyus; Conservation International Executive VP & Senior Scientist, Dr. M Sanjayan; Disney SVP Environmental Affairs, Beth Stevens; Steelcase CEO, Jim Keane; PwC Chief Purpose Officer, Shannon Schuyler; JLL President & CEO, Colin Dyer, and many more speakers from a wide range of corporations, startups, think tanks, policy groups, and others.

For more information on the the GreenBiz Forum and conference agenda, visit the GreenBiz website

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC’s programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. Through a focus on building collaboration for conservation with corporate employees, other conservation organizations, government agencies and community members, WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states, the District of Columbia and 13 countries. www.wildlifehc.org

About Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. (FCX)

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) is a premier U.S.-based natural resources company with an industry-leading global portfolio of mineral assets, significant oil and gas resources and a growing production profile. FCX is the world’s largest publicly traded copper producer.

FCX’s portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits; significant mining operations in the Americas, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in North America and the Cerro Verde operation in South America; the Tenke Fungurume minerals district in the DRC; and significant U.S. oil and natural gas assets in the Deepwater GOM, onshore and offshore California and in the Haynesville natural gas shale, and a position in the Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous natural gas trend onshore in South Louisiana. www.fcx.com

About Oldcastle Materials Inc.

Oldcastle Materials, based in Atlanta, Ga., is the leading vertically integrated supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and construction services in the United States. The company employs nearly 18,000 people at more than 1,200 locations in 44 states and has a strong commitment to providing exceptional quality, service and value to customers. Oldcastle Materials combines the flexibility, speed and in-depth market knowledge of local businesses with the buying power, shared expertise and operational excellence of a national network. The company is focused on the safety of its employees and works to be an engaged partner in the communities where it operates. Oldcastle Materials operates under Oldcastle Inc. a division of CRH plc, the international building materials group based in Dublin, Ireland. www.oldcastlematerials.com.

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Wildlife Habitat Council Unveils New Certification Program, Brand Identity and Website at WHC Conservation Conference 2015

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SILVER SPRING, MD, November 11, 2015 – Today, Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) President, Margaret O’Gorman, unveiled Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification, WHC’s new certification program. She also officially launched the new WHC brand identity and website.

WHC Conservation Certification recognizes meaningful and committed natural resource conservation programs on corporate lands. Programs that meet the established criteria are eligible for recognition through Conservation Certification, which provides a unique third-party, validation that attests to the quality of the conservation programs.

“WHC Conservation Certification sets the standard for corporate conservation,” said O’Gorman. “It provides a clear and consistent path towards high quality projects that bring value to both people and planet. Built around 25 possible habitat, species and education projects encompassed in the newly published Project Guidances, the new standard is designed to be accessible, flexible, credible, and ultimately drive change on corporate lands of all types.”

“There are many aspects of the new standard that appeal,” said WHC Board Chair Kevin Butt, General Manager and Chief Environmental Officer, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. “At the operational level, the Project Guidances provide a robust resource for project implementation, while the data collection through the online application provides many exciting reporting opportunities at the corporate level.”

The specifics of the standard set out in the Project Guidances, like the conservation objectives and the higher-level action strategies were developed with external stakeholders from government, NGO, education, academia and consulting firms and define the components of a strong project and the conditions that deem a project outstanding through Conservation Certification.

In addition to the launch of Conservation Certification, WHC unveiled its first rebrand in is 26 year history. The new brand serves to more closely align WHC with the innovative companies and organizations it serves. The key components of the new brand identity include a new logo and the new tagline: “Every act of conservation matters.”  Specific features of the logo include:

  • The leaf representing nature or habitat. The leaf evolves into a circle and an arrow indicating flow or an ongoing process.
  • The circle connects and encapsulates the other features, showing how they are part of a larger, holistic global system.
  • The dark blue shape represents the built environment and the people associated with Wildlife Habitat Council programs. It is constructed of building blocks, which also convey process and growth.
  • The light blue field under the building represents clean water, an essential component of successful conservation and habitat restoration programs.

“Both the brand and its assets – the logo, the website, the language, the graphics – convey a clear and concise message about Wildlife Habitat Council,” said Monica Keller, Director, Marketing and Communications. “That we help corporations implement conservation and education projects on their lands, we recognize this work through our certification standard, and we communicate the impacts.”

The Conservation Certification online application will go live in early 2016.

About Wildlife Habitat Council

Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC’s programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions. Through a focus on building collaboration for conservation with corporate employees, other conservation organizations, government agencies and community members, WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states, the District of Columbia and 13 countries. www.wildlifehc.org

Contact:  Patricia Leidemer, Wildlife Habitat Council, 240.247.0933, pleidemer@wildlifehc.org

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