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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