#261
April 7, 2006
1) Nature Conservancy and Forever Wild Save Thousands of Acres Along Perdido River
2) Local Birmingham Firm Purchases 4.3 Million Acres of Forestland
3) Ruffner Mountain to Expand 500-700 Acres
4) Governor Riley Makes AEMC Appointments
5) BEN Notes: Camp McDowell Seeks Program Coordinator, Earth Day Celebrations Across Alabama, Weeks Bay 20th Anniversary Celebration, Five Mile Creek Cleanup, Green Tie Affair, Ecycling Day
1. Nature Conservancy and Forever Wild Saves Thousands of Acres Along Perdido River - As part of one of the largest conservation purchases in U.S. history, the Nature Conservancy of Alabama appears set to acquire more than 14,000 acres of forestland along the Perdido River in Baldwin County.
According to the Mobile Register, the state Nature Conservancy's announcement was part of an estimated $300 million package nationally developed by the group's national office to acquire a portion of International Paper's North American land holdings. Overall, the Nature Conservancy will purchase 218,000 acres of International Paper land in 10 Southern states.
Last week, the state Forever Wild lands program purchased 4,000 acres along the Perdido, just north of the Nature Conservancy's tract. The state hopes to purchase the 14,000 acres from the Nature Conservancy in the future to make it available to a wide range of public uses. Biologically, the land is home to numerous endangered and threatened species, including gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, red-cockaded woodpeckers and numerous wildflowers.
2. Local Birmingham Firm Purchases 4.3 Million Acres of Forestland - On the heels of the Nature Conservancy's acquisition, a Birmingham firm, Resource Management Services and its investment partners are purchasing 4.3 million acres of timberland for $5.1 million from International Paper.
According to the Birmingham News, Resource Management's group will acquire 3.8 million acres of Southern forestland and another 440,000 acres in Michigan. Under terms of the agreement, the group will supply International Paper's mills for 20 years. After all the land sales with timber investment management companies and conservation organizations are completed, International Paper, who is focusing on its paper mills, will have sold 5.4 million acres or about 85% of its U.S. forestland holdings.
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3. Ruffner Mountain to Expand 500-700 Acres - According to the Birmingham News, Birmingham's largest park, Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, is planning to expand 500 to 700 acres and add a treetop visitor center and after-school program for neighborhood children.
One of the nation's largest urban parks, with the new land addition to its already 1,011 acre footprint, Ruffner would be about 75% larger than New York City's Central Park. Buying the land and making the structural improvements is expected to cost between $11 to $13 million. The group hopes to finish the whole project by 2010.
For more info about Ruffner Mountain, visit their website at http://www.ruffnermountain.org
4. Governor Riley Makes AEMC Appointments - On March 22nd, Governor Bob Riley re-appointed Sam Wainwright and John Lester to new terms on the Environmental Management Commission. Anita Archie of Montgomery and Laurel Gardner of Auburn were appointed to replace Commissioners Riley Boykin Smith and Pat Byington when their term expires on September 30th. This week, the Senate confirmed Wainwright, Lester and Archie.
5. BEN Notes: Camp McDowell Seeks Program Coordinator, Earth Day Celebrations Across Alabama, Weeks Bay 20th Anniversary Celebration, Five Mile Creek Cleanup, Green Tie Affair, Ecycling Day
Camp McDowell Seeks Program Coordinator - The McDowell Environmental Center is seeking a Program Coordinator for their environmental education center. For detailed information about the position, please email Maggie Johnston at maggie@campmcdowell.com The deadline is April 30th.
Earth Day Celebrations Across Alabama
Earthfest - Month-long Calendar of Events - Go to http://www.AlabamaEarthFest.org
Shoals Earth Month Celebrations 2006 - Go to http://shoalsenvironalliance.netfirms.com
Earth Day at the Gardens - April 9th, 1-4 pm. The 9th Annual celebration at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Earth Week at Samford University - April 17-25 - Schedule of events can be found at http://www.samford.edu/earthday/
Earth Week at Auburn University - April 17 to 22. Scheduled Events can be found at http://earthday.auburn.edu/index.php
Auntie Litter's Earth Day Parade - April 20th, 9 am to 2 pm in Downtown Birmingham, http://www.auntielitter.org
EarthFest: Earth Day at Homewood Park - April 22nd, 11:30 to 9:00 pm. http://www.AlabamaEarthFest.org
Earthfest 2006 - Rocking the Arboretum II - April 22nd from 10 -6 pm. at the Donald Davis Arboretum at Auburn University.
Earthfest 2006 - University of Alabama - April 22nd on the Quad, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, contact Jolee Passerini, 205-348-8416.
Earth Day: Mountain Longleaf Festival - April 22, 10-3 pm., Historic McClellan near Anniston, http://epic.jsu.edu
Earth Day with the Freshwater Land Trust - April 22nd at the Shades Creek Restoration site from 9-noon. For info and directions call 205-214-8613.
Bay Area Earth Day 2006 - April 23rd, Noon to 5:00, Fairhope Park, Fairhope, Alabama, Eleanore Scott, 251-928-5730.
Vulcan Park Foundation Presents Alabama Neighbors - April 23rd, 2:00 - Featuring Naturalist David Hollaway, http://www.vulcanpark.org
Earthfest at Ruffner Mountain - April 29th, 2-5 , http://www.ruffnermountain.org
Weeks Bay 20th Anniversary Celebration - Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Weeks Bay Reserve on Saturday, April 8th at the Reserve, from 8-2 pm. There will be presentations starting at 11:00 and lunch at noon. For more info about the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation, go to http://www.weeksbay.org
Five Mile Creek Cleanup - Help cleanup Five-Mile Creek (Rain or Shine) April 8th at 8:00 am. in the Huffman/Roebuck area of Birmingham. Want to participate? Call Libba Vaughan at 205-214-8613 or Michael Sznajderman, 205-257-4155.
Green Tie Affair - The Alabama Environmental Council will be holding their 10th Annual Green Tie Affair at Ted's Garage in Birmingham, from 7 pm until 11:00 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more info contact the AEC at 205-322-3126.
Ecycling Day - Learn how to recycle your old computers, cell phones and other business electronics by visiting collection locations across Alabama on April 22nd. To learn where to go, visit http://www.EcyclingDay.com or call 205-241-8134.