BURBANK, CA, April 26, 2012 – The Walt Disney Company announced today a $6 million investment to support forest carbon projects in California. This commitment builds on Disney’s longstanding history of nature conservation and environmental stewardship, a legacy that spans more than sixty years. The projects will help replant forests, and improve forest management practices to reduce green house gas emissions and conserve forests in the Mendocino, San Diego and Los Angeles areas.
“Caring for the environment is a cornerstone of how we behave as a company and as a global citizen,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “This commitment is reflected in our own policies and practices, and also through Disney’s collaboration with leading environmental and conservation organizations. Today’s investment is another example of how, together, we are working to revive and restore local forests for the benefit of wildlife, communities, and future generations.”
The investments were made in partnership with National Forest Foundation, California Department of Parks and Recreation, California State Parks Foundation, TreePeople, and The Conservation Fund. The projects include:
- Angeles National Forest, CA (National Forest Foundation) – Disney will help reforest 900 acres of national forest burned in a 2009 fire, and help restore sensitive habitat and natural ecosystem services.
- Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, CA (California Department of Parks and Recreation, California State Parks Foundation & TreePeople) – Disney’s support will help reforest 1,075 acres of forest land within Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, minimize erosion risks, and enhance accessibility for more than 400,000 annual visitors.
- Garcia River and Big River/Salmon Creek Forests, CA (The Conservation Fund) – The project will employ forest management practices to effectively maintain ecosystem services, conserve critical habitats, provide carbon benefits and support the local economy.
These investments mark more than $20 million from Disney to forest carbon projects since 2009. In addition to the North America commitment announced today, Disney has supported forest projects around the world, including in Inner Mongolia, Peru and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as a $2 million investment in the Sichuan province in China made earlier this month.