Published 04-29-05
Submitted by Coleman Natural Foods
Creative Working Partnership Formed with the U.S. Forest Service, Two Non-Profit Conservation Organizations, Private Companies and Concerned Citizens Addressing Critical Reforesting Needs
WHEN: Arbor Day -- Friday, April 29, 2005, at 3:00 P.M. at the USDA's Whitten Building located on Jefferson Drive on the Washington Mall.
WHAT: America's farm and forest lands need restoration. The quality of our air, water soil, wildlife -- our quality of life -- depends on immediately addressing this critical issue. The need is great and the currently available resources are not enough.
To address this concern, an unusual partnership of business, citizens' organizations, and the federal government, has been formed to protect our lands for future generations. The goals are simple -- to plant 20 million trees on national forests and adjacent lands damaged by insects, disease and fire and to restore 100 million acres for sustainable farming and ranching. This partnership demonstrates that working together companies, government, nonprofits and individual citizens can make a significant impact on addressing this critical problem.
WHO: The announcement will be made by: Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns; Sally Collins, Associate Chief, USDA U.S. Forest Service; Dana York, Associate Chief, USDA National Resources Conservation Service; Debra Gangloff, Executive Director, American Forests; Douglas Wheeler, Chairman, American Farmland Trust; and invited Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Conrad Burns (R-Montana); Andrew Johnson, Tribal Executive Committee Chairman, Nez Perce Tribe; as well as executives of Coleman Natural Foods.