Koch Industries Wins Conservation Education Award

November 23, 2015

Contacts:
Patricia Leidemer, Wildlife Habitat Council, 240-247-0933, pleidemer@wildlifehc.org
Keturah Austin, Koch Industries, 316-828-5227, keturah.austin@kochps.com


BALTIMORE, MD, November 23, 2015—Koch Industries received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation and education at the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Conservation Conference held November 12. Koch Industries demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship by winning the Conservation Education Award.

 The Conservation Education Award recognizes a corporate member that has a history of striving for excellence in conservation education and outreach. This award honors not a single program, but rather an entire organization, for its combined efforts in providing quality educational experiences to its employees and the surrounding community.

 “Koch companies’ conservation education programs are exemplary in their reach and quality,” said Margaret O’Gorman, WHC President. “Combined, Flint Hills Resources’ Corpus Christi Wildlife Learning Preserve and Joliet facility, Georgia-Pacific’s Leaf River Cellulose operations and INVISTA’s Victoria site have hosted more than 30,000 learners since 2007.”

In all, WHC has certified 13 Koch company sites in nine states, with approximately 311,000  acres under management, and supported by more than 200 employee volunteers.

 “We are honored to receive this recognition and extremely proud of the success that our employee-led conservation programs have achieved over many years. Supporting our employees’ ongoing efforts at the local level demonstrates a shared commitment to caring for the environment,” said Sheryl Corrigan, director of environmental, health and safety for Koch Industries. “We have also been fortunate to establish wonderful working partnerships with local educators, making it possible to provide fun and meaningful educational experiences for thousands of children at many of our certified sites.”

 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.  

More information at www.wildlifehc.org.  Conservation registry available at http://wildlifehc.conservationregistry.org/