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The Nature Conservancy Hosts Seventh Annual Coastal Corporate Council for the Environment Breakfast

Atlanta, GA—March 25, 2002—For the past seven years, The Nature Conservancy has honored its corporate members who contribute $1,000 or more annually at the annual Coastal Corporate Council for the Environment Breakfast.  This year's event took place on Thursday, March 14 at The Chatham Club, Hilton Savannah DeSoto and featured guest speaker, Colonel Roger A. Gerber, District Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District.  The Conservancy highlighted its conservation achievements, including a partnership with the USACE on the Savannah River.

The Nature Conservancy recognizes that partnerships are the key to achieving conservation success at a global scale.  Corporations have played a key role in the organization's protection efforts, as both members and landowners.  In addition to corporate partnerships, the Conservancy turns to other organizations to assist with its land protection efforts.  One of Georgia's newest partners is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  As a way to introduce this partnership to its corporate donors, The Nature Conservancy invited Colonel Gerber to speak at the Coastal Breakfast.

As part of The Nature Conservancy's Freshwater Initiative, it is partnering with the USACE on a national scale to assist the Conservancy in becoming as proficient in freshwater biological conservation as it is in terrestrial conservation.  The USACE is an agency with extensive technical expertise and experience in water resource management, strong political clout, and extensive resources.  The Corps will also help enhance communication about freshwater conservation practices among Conservancy sites.  In Georgia, that site is the Savannah River Basin and is a joint project between the USACE and the Georgia and South Carolina Chapters of The Nature Conservancy.

"I am convinced that the time is right to engage in new and creative partnerships that help develop win-win solutions to our water resources challenges.  Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy will, I predict, bear much good fruit for the people of Georgia and South Carolina as we strive together to meet human needs while honoring and protecting the important ecological resources of this region," said Colonel Gerber.

"The Coastal Corporate Council for the Environment Breakfast provides The Nature Conservancy the opportunity to bring together partners from the corporate sector, governmental agencies and civic community to acknowledge our common goal to protect Georgia's Last Great Places," said Connell Stiles, Development Officer for the Conservancy's Coastal office.

Immediately following the breakfast, many guests joined Conservancy staff for a one-of-a-kind nature experience.  The grou strolled through majestic longleaf pine forests and explored ancient hardwood bottoms at the Webb Center.

The Nature Conservancy would like to thank the event sponsors: International Paper Company/The Branigar Organization, Inc., Palmer & Cay, Inc., and The Coastal Bank.