TACA Conveyor - Winter 2007 - (Page 25) Wildlife Habitat Council Announces Partnership With Industrial Asphalt and KBDJ Austin Company Seeking National Wildlife Habitat Council Certification at KBDJ quarry in Hays County T he Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) announced today that it has partnered with Industrial Asphalt, Inc., and KBDJ of Austin to help enhance wildlife habitats. Industrial Asphalt, Inc., an asphalt and limestone manufacturing company, plans to seek certification of its KBDJ limestone quarry near Buda in Hays County through WHC’s Corporate Wildlife Habitat Certification/ International Accreditation Program. “The Wildlife Habitat Council will celebrate its 20 th anniversary in 2008 with more than 100 corporations voluntarily managing their facilities on more than two million acres of land for the benefit of wildlife and conservation education,” said Robert Johnson, WHC president. “Our corporate members are the leaders in industry who have gone beyond regulatory compliance and integrated responsible environmental management into the core values of everyday business practices. We are pleased that Industrial Asphalt and KBDJ have joined WHC as they demonstrate their commitment to join this distinguished group of companies in managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems for the benefit of society.” “Industrial Asphalt and KBDJ believe it is possible to do business in a manner that is ecologically sensitive,” said Jill Shackelford, president of Industrial Asphalt. “While the State of Texas and its transportation future depend on quality grade limestone like the aggregate produced at our KBDJ site, we are committed to preserving and protecting the wildlife and the natural beauty of the property. Industrial Asphalt and KBDJ are excited to begin our partnership with the Wildlife Habitat Council, and we look forward to working on environmental projects with our neighboring community.” Industrial Asphalt/KBDJ will initiate various wildlife habitat enhancement projects on the site, which will continue throughout the next year as the site works toward applying for WHC certification. The company also is preparing to conduct an inventory of the plants and animals that inhabit the site. Industrial Asphalt/KBDJ has three projects planned or underway: • Three bat houses already have been installed at the KBDJ site to attract these important pollinators. Placement of the houses ABOUT THE WILDLIFE followed recommendations to ensure HABITAT COUNCIL food and cover for the bats. An The Wildlife Habitat estimated 100 million bats each Council is a nonprofit, spring migrate from Mexico to Texas, non-lobbying organization and many roost and breed in Central dedicated to increasing the Texas. Bats provide seed dispersal quality and amount of wildlife and cross-pollination for many plant habitat on corporate, private species as well as control insect and public lands. WHC devotes populations. its resources to building • Buffers will be set aside and left partnerships with corporations natural and undisturbed to preserve and conservation groups to native vegetation. The buffers serve create solutions that balance as the location for the bat houses the demands of economic and will be used for future education growth with the requirements projects. of a healthy, biodiverse and • Invasive plant species on the site sustainable environment. are being investigated, and plans More than 2.4 million acres in are to control at least one species, 48 states, Puerto Rico and 16 kudzu, a fast-growing vine from Asia, other countries are managed which threatens the ecosystem by for wildlife through WHCcompeting with native species for assisted projects. For more water. information, visit WHC online “As we learn more by working at www.wildlifehc.org. with the Wildlife Habitat Council, we hope to partner with schools and organizations in Hays County on additional projects that will allow us, together, to enhance our community’s natural surroundings,” Shackelford said. Since 1990, the Wildlife Habitat Council has certified more than 408 sites worldwide. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefi ts of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal. TACA Conveyor • Winter 2007 25 http://www.wildlifehc.org
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