None The Nature Conservancy in Texas Press Releases Search All Press Releases Niki F. McDaniel Senior Media Relations Manager, nmcdaniel@tnc.org, 210-224-8774, ext. 217

Nature Conservancy of Texas receives Chevrolet truck from GM

San Antonio, Texas —March 8, 2006—The Nature Conservancy of Texas has taken ownership of a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab – a gift from General Motors – for use in the non-profit organization’s work to conserve lands and waters, Conservancy officials announced today. The Chevy Silverado was the third truck given to the Conservancy in 2004 and 2005 as part of GM’s “Trucks for Texas” campaign, and the ninth vehicle GM has given the Texas Program since 1995.

“GM’s rugged trucks are an essential tool for conservation when Conservancy staff members must venture into rough terrain to determine the locations and status of the wild plants, animals and natural landscapes they work to conserve for future generations,” said Carter Smith, Texas State Director for The Nature Conservancy.

Paul Barwick, the Conservancy’s Southern Edwards Plateau Project Director, received the keys to the new truck from Craig Eppling, Regional Communications Manager for General Motors on March 8 at Freedom Chevrolet in San Antonio. Barwick is involved in efforts with Conservancy partners – including the city of San Antonio – to protect the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for most of San Antonio and the southern Hill Country.

“The Edwards Aquifer is supreme among water resources in the Texas Hill Country, known for its abundance of springs, rivers and creeks,” Barwick said. “The aquifer also provides habitat for a number of rare plants and animals, including cave- and crevice-dwelling species found nowhere else on Earth, that we’re working to protect.” Eppling also presented Barwick with a check from the General Motors Foundation for $20,000 to support the Conservancy’s work in the Texas Hill Country.

“General Motors was drawn to The Nature Conservancy because its collaborative approach promotes a healthy economy and a healthy environment,” Eppling said. “It also generates innovative initiatives within local communities to preserve our landscapes and help local economies. By working with communities, businesses and people, The Nature Conservancy has helped protect and save precious places around the world – forever.”

Originally, GM and the Conservancy engaged the community in conservation of the natural world by offering the truck as a “steel canvas” to 26 students representing various San Antonio high schools. Decorated with cityscapes and cultural images epitomizing San Antonio, the truck was unveiled on Oct. 12, 2005, at Burbank High School. It then spent six months as a rolling art exhibit at San Antonio-area Chevrolet dealerships and other local venues.

Carter Smith, Texas state director for the Conservancy, said that the organization is most grateful for its partnership with GM, which began 12 years ago. “General Motors has donated $19 million in cash and more than 175 vehicles, for a total of more than $23 million,” Smith said. “While that financial support is crucial to our work, certainly GM’s vehicles play an important role in the challenging physical work of conservation.”

Other trucks donated to the Conservancy’s Texas Program in 2004 and 2005 included a 2005 Chevy Suburban to support conservation work at the Lennox Foundation Southmost Preserve in Brownsville and a 2005 Chevy Silverado for use at Barton Creek Habitat Preserve in Austin.

View images of the artwork and learn more about GM's "Trucks for Texas" campaign

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The Nature Conservancy is an international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its nearly 1 million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped protect more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. In the Lone Star State, The Nature Conservancy of Texas owns 35 nature preserves and conservation projects and assists private landowners to conserve their land through more than 70 voluntary land-preservation agreements. The Nature Conservancy of Texas protects 250,000 acres of wild lands and, with partners, has conserved close to a million acres for wildlife habitat across the state. Visit The Nature Conservancy of Texas on the Web at nature.org/texas.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 75 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries . In 2005, 9.17 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac,  Daab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM operates one of the world’s leading finance companies, GMAC Financial Services, which offers automotive, residential and commercial financing and insurance. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.