Print This PageWildlife Habitat Council Honors Muscatine Site
Monsanto’s Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve was recognized as a Signature of Sustainability by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for its outstanding commitment to biodiversity and conservation education on May 8. The Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve is one of only 21 WHC certified programs to ever receive this designation.
“We’re very honored and excited to receive this important recognition of our commitment to environmental stewardship and education,” Emer O’Broin, Monsanto vice president of environmental, safety and health (ESH) and human rights, said. “Monsanto takes conservation very seriously – for nearly 20 years our work with the Wildlife Habitat Council has put an emphasis on conservation education and restoration for local residents to become educated on ways to be responsible stewards of our land for future generations.”
A Signature of Sustainability is a habitat program that demonstrates the potential of private sector involvement for biodiversity conservation and environmental education; all go above and beyond certification standards for the WHC Wildlife at Work program. The Signature of Sustainability programs were selected by a committee of judges and evaluated based on environmental education, habitat enhancement and community involvement.
WHC 20th Anniversary
As part of WHC’s 20th Anniversary celebration throughout 2008, Big Sand Mound and several other Signatures of Sustainability are being featured as part of a national media tour with educational workshops, environmental fairs and other local community events.
“These Signatures of Sustainability make the communities around them a better place for both biodiversity and learners of all ages, and represent the very highest standards for a WHC program,” Robert Johnson, WHC president, said. “We hope the Signatures of Sustainability will inspire even greater engagement by companies in voluntary actions for the conservation of biodiversity.”
About Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve
Under the WHC Wildlife at Work program, the Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve volunteer ecological advisory committee manages 510 acres of habitat along the Mississippi River near Muscatine, Iowa, for a variety of wildlife species.
“The Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve is an excellent example of industry, government, and academia working together to protect and enhance this unique area while benefiting the community and promoting environmental education,” Connie Veach, Monsanto environmental coordinator and chair of the Prairie Restoration Committee, said.
The sand mound represents an isolated section of the Mississippi River. It’s revered for its diverse ecosystem of unusual plants and animals, including 352 native plant species and 30 rare plant and animal inhabitants.
“Receiving the Signature of Sustainability award was somewhat of a surprise because we are so familiar with the Big Sand Mound Preserve that at times we forget just how unique it is,” Matt Ward, Muscatine plant manager, said. “We are indeed thankful for this WHC recognition.”
Other Conservation and Education Efforts
The Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve and employees at the Muscatine Plant have worked together on conservation education efforts that received WHC certification for Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) in 2007. And the combined team, in cooperation with the Louisa Ecological Advisory Committee and MidAmerican Energy Company, coordinates annual educational events on the Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve and sponsors teacher training workshops. Muscatine Community College also uses the Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve for field study courses and as a research site.
More information is available on WHC’s 20th Anniversary Web site at www.wildlifehc.org/20years.
