BP America donates 655 acres near Chesapeake Bay to The Nature Conservancy
BP America has donated 655 acres of forested wetlands and mature hardwood forests to The Nature Conservancy. The acreage is located near the York River where the river empties into the Chesapeake Bay.
"This part of the York River is the gateway to one of the largest and most historic fisheries on the East Coast and is an essential place for migratory birds," said Michael Lipford, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Virginia.
"The BP America natural area illustrates the connection between land protection and water quality. By preserving this property for future generations, BP America has made an important contribution to protecting water quality in the York River."
The BP natural area contains a range of wetland types, including tidal, non-tidal and headwater forested wetlands. The 655-acre site is the second largest, privately owned and undeveloped natural tract in York County.
The site preserves an increasingly rare forested wetland community and protects the nearby Bay waters from degradation. Migratory fish such as American shad, hickory shad, alewife, blueback herring and striped bass use the Lower York and its tributaries for reproduction. The Conservancy's Chesapeake Rivers program has worked to protect natural areas in the watersheds of these rivers since 2001.
"BP is delighted that we can help preserve this natural acreage through our donation to The Nature Conservancy," said Ross Pillari, president of BP America, Inc.
"It is especially gratifying to know of the environmental benefits associated with preserving this natural acreage. We believe it is important for corporations to act in ways that are mutually advantageous for communities, society and business."
BP's 655-acre tract will serve several different purposes beyond land conservation and will continue to be used for scientific research, education and outdoor recreation:
- The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences has been monitoring groundwater levels on a portion of the property to develop a model for assessing wetland functionality.
- Old Dominion University researchers have collected and are studying a new type of quillwort from the site that is considered new to science.
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Comments: 4
See http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/willg
Jonathon, I have every hope that your heart is in the right place. I hope you will come to understand the fearful results of using these chemicals.