News Release

December 29, 2005: International Paper, The Conservation Fund and State of New York Complete First Phase of State's Largest Conservation Project

U.S.

International Paper, The Conservation Fund and State of New York Complete First Phase of State's Largest Conservation Project

 

International Paper logo. (PRNewsFoto)

STAMFORD, CT USA 10/04/2004

 

 

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- International Paper

(NYSE: IP), the State of New York and The Conservation Fund today completed the first phase of a 257,000-acre Adirondack Park conservation easement, aimed at providing open-space protection in perpetuity and expanded recreational opportunities amid working forests.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/IPLOGO )

This phase of the transaction, the first of three, comprises approximately 41,500 acres in Hamilton and Franklin counties. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be paying approximately $5.5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund for this phase. The remaining two phases of the agreement are under contract and expected to close in 2006. In its entirety, the agreement constitutes the largest conservation project ever undertaken in the State of New York.

"As stewards of forestlands for more than 100 years, International Paper is deeply committed to sustainable forest management, and proud to be a part of conserving all of our Adirondack land holdings," said David Liebetreu, International Paper's vice president of Forest Resources. "With this first phase of the project complete, we are one step closer to ensuring these many acres of Adirondack wilderness are protected and accessible for the people of New York and other states to enjoy for years to come."

The entire project would permanently conserve the availability of a working forest, which will remain largely in private ownership, while supporting environmental conservation and recreational values held by the State of New York. It will restrict future development and subdivision on the property, provide for certain defined public access rights on portions of the property and require continued adherence to the Sustainable Forestry

Initiative(R) Standard. In addition, the conservation easements will provide open space and public recreation; protect major river corridors, including frontage on the St. Regis, Kunjamuck and Sacandaga rivers; and conserve critical biodiversity and wildlife habitats, including important areas for the spruce grouse, endangered bats and several rare plant bogs.

This phase of the agreement includes a total of 44 miles of snowmobile trails and nearly 190 miles of existing roads and trails that allow hiking and other non-motorized activity. The public will also have immediate access to all water bodies located in Phase 1 for fishing and canoeing including Elm Lake, the Sacandaga River and Racquette River. In addition, as of May 1, 2006, the public may access and enjoy approximately 2.5 miles of shoreline on the Piercefield Flow for fishing, hiking, nature observation, picnicking and camping at designated sites.

State DEC Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan said, "The preservation of more than 41,500 acres in today's closing is an important step in finalizing this historic land preservation agreement and will provide great outdoor opportunities including snowmobiling, hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and canoeing. DEC is proud to partner with IP and The Conservation Fund to increase recreational access and continue sustainable forestry on these parcels so that we can further build upon Governor George Pataki's commitment to land preservation, public access, and supporting local economies."

The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit, is the lead environmental partner on behalf of the State of New York to assess the project's natural resources, provide land use recommendations, and structure the conditions of the conservation easement. The Fund also provided financial risk capital to support the purchase of the easement.

"This is an extraordinary project in every sense of the word -- from its scope and scale to its complexity to its tremendous conservation outcomes," said Rich Erdmann, executive vice president of The Conservation Fund. "Thanks to the steadfast commitment and visionary leadership of Governor Pataki and his fine team, these important lands will forever protect wildlife habitat, enhance air and water quality, support local economies and provide exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities for current and future generations."

Since 1985, The Conservation Fund has protected more than 5 million acres of America's land and water resources, including 143,000 acres of forestland in the Adirondack Park in 1999 as part of a 300,000-acre transaction to protect working forests in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Headquartered in the United States, International Paper

(http://www.internationalpaper.com) is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging, and forest products. As one of the largest private landowners in the world, IP foresters and wildlife biologists manage the woods with great care in compliance with the rigorous standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative(R) Standard. The SFI(R) Standard is an independent certification system that ensures the perpetual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting biodiversity, wildlife, plants, soil, water and air quality. In the U.S. alone, IP protects more than a half million acres of unique and environmentally important habitat on its forestlands through conservation agreements and land sales to environmental groups. International Paper has a longstanding policy of using no wood from endangered forests.

The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit organization, acts to protect America's legacy of land and water resources in partnership with other organizations, public agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals. Seeking innovative conservation solutions for the 21st century, the Fund works to integrate economic and environmental goals. Since its founding in 1985, the fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, working landscapes, community "greenspace" and historic sites totaling more than 5 million acres throughout the nation. http://www.conservationfund.org

For more information about the 257,000-acre Adirondack conservation partnership between International Paper, the State of New York, and The Conservation Fund, view the following press release on our Web site at

http://www.internationalpaper.com:

"International Paper, State of New York and Conservation Fund Partner to Conserve About 257,000 Acres in Adirondacks" (April 22, 2004)

 

 

SOURCE International Paper; The Conservation Fund

Web Site: http://www.internationalpaper.com http://www.conservationfund.org

Photo Notes: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/IPLOGO

Topic(s): Forestry News, Government News Releases, Industry News Releases, parks and wilderness news

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