International Paper and The Conservation Fund Recognize and Reward Environmental and Conservation Excellence WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Today International Paper and The Conservation Fund recognized Camilla Herlevich, founder of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, and Colorado high school teachers Melanie Phelps and Joyce Webb for their unique appreciation for the environment and their outstanding efforts to protect natural resources through leadership in conservation and education. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/IPLOGO ) The 2004 Environmental Excellence Awards, each accompanied by an unrestricted $10,000 grant from the International Paper Foundation, were presented at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Honorable Dale Bosworth, USDA Forest Chief, delivered the keynote address. Presenting the awards were George O'Brien, International Paper's senior vice president of forest products, and Lawrence Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund. "It is a privilege to recognize Camilla, Melanie and Joyce. Their unique partnerships between business, academic and conservation communities are demonstrating the importance of maintaining a healthy environment and a healthy economy," Bosworth said. The International Paper Conservation Partnership Award, now in its 16th year, recognizes individuals who protect habitat in the United States through a partnership between business and conservation. The 2004 award was presented to Camilla Herlevich. Beginning as a volunteer in 1992, Ms. Herlevich built Coastal Land Trust into a successful regional organization that has helped protect more than 28,000 acres of environmentally important habitat -- including a number of nationally significant areas -- in 21 counties. Her inspiring vision, skills and experience were keys to developing and implementing the group's North Carolina Coastal Land Conservation Initiative. In doing so, she has built partnerships with individual and corporate landowners, government agencies, business leaders, university faculty members and other local, regional and national conservation organizations. Safeguarding riparian systems along the state's rapidly developing coastline has been a high priority for the land trust. The group's effectiveness and accomplishments were recognized earlier this year when the Coastal Land Trust was named "Best Public Organization of the Year." An attorney, Ms. Herlevich, also worked with the Conservation Trust of North Carolina to produce "Conservation Easements: An Introduction for North Carolina Landowners." The publication is used throughout the state to help private landowners protect the region's rich diversity of wildlife, forests and wetlands. The International Paper Environmental Education Award recognizes those who have shown special skill in encouraging a better understanding of the complex relationship between a clean environment and a healthy economy. The 2004 Environmental Education Award was awarded to co-recipients this year for the first time in the history of the award. Melanie Phelps of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Joyce Webb of Monument, Colo., were the co-honorees. Ms. Phelps and Ms. Webb were recognized for their innovative "on the rivers" environmental training program for teachers using the Colorado River, Green River and Yampa River. The two educators also created similar programs within the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek watersheds for their students in the Harrison School District where they teach. During the past four years, the two recipients have guided scores of teachers from throughout the nation and overseas to wilderness areas, through whitewater rapids and into the desert. Participants enrolled in the river programs undertake environmental research projects as well as study water use issues and forestry management in the West. At the same time, the teachers and, subsequently, their students learn about balance between environmental protection and economic growth. As an additional benefit, these programs, which are given under the auspices of the Colorado School of Mines, generate research data that contributes to a greater understanding of Western river habitat by local, state and national public conservation agencies. "Melanie and Joyce share International Paper's passion for protecting natural resources. It is a privilege to recognize individuals who have made such an extraordinary conservation and environmental contribution to their community," said O'Brien. "Thanks to the generous support of the International Paper Foundation, today we celebrate the successes of three conservation heroes. Camilla, Melanie and Joyce remind us of the power of partnerships and the importance of innovation and personal commitment," said Selzer. "The Conservation Fund is especially pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with International Paper, whose extraordinary commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable forestry should be applauded." The Conservation Fund is the nation's foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America's land and water legacy for current and future generations. Seeking innovative conservation solutions for the 21st century, the Fund works to integrate economic and environmental goals. Since its founding in 1985, the Fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, working landscapes, community "greenspace," and historic sites totaling 4 million acres. With 1% fund raising costs and 96% program allocation, The Conservation Fund is recognized as the nation's top rated environmental nonprofit by the American Institute of Philanthropy. International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com/) businesses include paper, packaging and forest products. As one of the largest private landowners in the world, IP professional foresters and wildlife biologists manage the woods with great care in compliance with the rigorous standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program. The SFI program is an independent certification system that ensures the perpetual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting biodiversity, wildlife, plants, soil, water and air quality. In the U.S. alone, IP protects more than 1.5 million acres of unique and environmentally important habitat on its forestlands through conservation easements and land sales to environmental groups. And, the company has a long-standing policy of using no wood from endangered forests. Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in over 40 countries and sells its products in more than 120 nations http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020701/IPLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: International Paper; The Conservation Fund CONTACT: Carrie Langdon, International Paper, +1-202-628-1223; or Jack Lynn, The Conservation Fund, +1-703-683-2996 Web site: http://www.internationalpaper.com/ http://www.conservationfund.org/

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