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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2001
Washington, D.C. (June 27) – Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) today joined with American Electric Power (AEP), The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to announce a unique public-private partnership to acquire, protect and restore a bottomland hardwood forest on 18,372 acres near Catahoula Lake in east central Louisiana. The extraordinary relationship between the multinational energy company, non-profit organization and federal agency will create the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project, which is designed to fulfill land conservation and habitat restoration projects and a new carbon sequestration program. "This historic initiative in Louisiana is a model for future public-private partnerships in its vision and scope," said Sen. Landrieu. "The Catahoula Reforestation Project demonstrates how the private sector can work proactively to make a difference in our nation's communities." Highlights of the partnership include the following: • The Conservation Fund acquired 18,372 acres from Tensas Delta Land Co. The Conservation Fund, in turn, conveyed 10,257 acres to AEP for $3.2 million and 8,115 acres to the USFWS for $1.5 million from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which provides federal funding for land acquisitions. • AEP will restore bottomland hardwood habitat by planting native trees on its property and a portion of the property owned by the USFWS. • The entire 18,372 acres will be managed by the USFWS as part of Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), one of 21 refuges in Louisiana, for the benefit of migratory birds, turkey, white-tailed deer and other wildlife. "The Catahoula Lake region is a major haven for migratory birds in the Mississippi Delta. I am delighted that this ground-breaking initiative will help protect Louisiana's natural treasures," said Sen. Landrieu. |
