International Paper and The Conservation Fund Recognize and Reward Environmental and Conservation Excellence

International Paper and The Conservation Fund Recognize and
Reward Environmental and Conservation Excellence 


WASHINGTON, June 23  /PRNewswire/ -- Today International Paper and The
Conservation Fund recognized Camilla Herlevich, founder of the North Carolina
Coastal Land Trust, and Colorado high school teachers Melanie Phelps and Joyce
Webb for their unique appreciation for the environment and their outstanding
efforts to protect natural resources through leadership in conservation and
education.

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

The 2004 Environmental Excellence Awards, each accompanied by an unrestricted
$10,000 grant from the International Paper Foundation, were presented at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  The Honorable Dale Bosworth, USDA
Forest Chief, delivered the keynote address. Presenting the awards were George
O'Brien, International Paper's senior vice president of forest products, and
Lawrence Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund.

"It is a privilege to recognize Camilla, Melanie and Joyce. Their unique
partnerships between business, academic and conservation communities are
demonstrating the importance of maintaining a healthy environment and a healthy
economy," Bosworth said.

The International Paper Conservation Partnership Award, now in its 16th year,
recognizes individuals who protect habitat in the United States through a
partnership between business and conservation. The 2004 award was presented to
Camilla Herlevich. Beginning as a volunteer in 1992, Ms. Herlevich built
Coastal Land Trust into a successful regional organization that has helped
protect more than 28,000 acres of environmentally important habitat --
including a number of nationally significant areas -- in 21 counties. Her
inspiring vision, skills and experience were keys to developing and
implementing the group's North Carolina Coastal Land Conservation Initiative.
In doing so, she has built partnerships with individual and corporate
landowners, government agencies, business leaders, university faculty members
and other local, regional and national conservation organizations. Safeguarding
riparian systems along the state's rapidly developing coastline has been a high
priority for the land trust. The group's effectiveness and accomplishments were
recognized earlier this year when the Coastal Land Trust was named "Best Public
Organization of the Year."

An attorney, Ms. Herlevich, also worked with the Conservation Trust of North
Carolina to produce "Conservation Easements: An Introduction for North Carolina
Landowners." The publication is used throughout the state to help private
landowners protect the region's rich diversity of wildlife, forests and
wetlands.

The International Paper Environmental Education Award recognizes those who have
shown special skill in encouraging a better understanding of the complex
relationship between a clean environment and a healthy economy.  The 2004
Environmental Education Award was awarded to co-recipients this year for the
first time in the history of the award. Melanie Phelps of Colorado Springs,
Colo., and Joyce Webb of Monument, Colo., were the co-honorees.  Ms. Phelps and
Ms. Webb were recognized for their innovative "on the rivers" environmental
training program for teachers using the Colorado River, Green River and Yampa
River. The two educators also created similar programs within the Arkansas
River and Fountain Creek watersheds for their students in the Harrison School
District where they teach. During the past four years, the two recipients have
guided scores of teachers from throughout the nation and overseas to wilderness
areas, through whitewater rapids and into the desert. Participants enrolled in
the river programs undertake environmental research projects as well as study
water use issues and forestry management in the West. At the same time, the
teachers and, subsequently, their students learn about balance between
environmental protection and economic growth.

As an additional benefit, these programs, which are given under the auspices of
the Colorado School of Mines, generate research data that contributes to a
greater understanding of Western river habitat by local, state and national
public conservation agencies.

"Melanie and Joyce share International Paper's passion for protecting natural
resources. It is a privilege to recognize individuals who have made such an
extraordinary conservation and environmental contribution to their community,"
said O'Brien.

"Thanks to the generous support of the International Paper Foundation, today we
celebrate the successes of three conservation heroes. Camilla, Melanie and
Joyce remind us of the power of partnerships and the importance of innovation
and personal commitment," said Selzer. "The Conservation Fund is especially
pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with International Paper,
whose extraordinary commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable
forestry should be applauded."

The Conservation Fund is the nation's foremost environmental nonprofit
dedicated to protecting America's land and water legacy for current and future
generations. 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 4
million acres. With 1% fund raising costs and 96% program allocation, The
Conservation Fund is recognized as the nation's top rated environmental
nonprofit by the American Institute of Philanthropy.

International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com/) businesses include
paper, packaging and forest products. As one of the largest private landowners
in the world, IP professional foresters and wildlife biologists manage the
woods with great care in compliance with the rigorous standards of the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative program. The SFI program 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 1.5 million
acres of unique and environmentally important habitat on its forestlands
through conservation easements and land sales to environmental groups. And, the
company has a long-standing policy of using no wood from endangered forests.
Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in over
40 countries and sells its products in more than 120 nations 

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DATASOURCE: International Paper; The Conservation Fund



CONTACT:  Carrie Langdon, International Paper, [phone]; or Jack

Lynn, The Conservation Fund, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.internationalpaper.com/

http://www.conservationfund.org/ 

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