Regional Director Robyn Thorson (middle) confers with The Conservation Fund President, Larry Selzer (left) and Detroit Edison Vice President, Skiles Boyd (right). - Courtesy photo by Dave Mitchell, DTE Energy

Tree planting crew on Arbor Day 2007. - FWS photo by Steve Kahl

Attendees at the tree planting ceremony included (left to right) Larry Selzer (President, The Conservation Fund), Skiles Boyd (Vice President, Detroit Edison), Steve Kahl (Refuge Manager, Shiawassee NWR), Dusty Houser (Regional Manager, Senator Carl Levin), Jim Lewis (Deputy District Chief, Representative Dale Kildee), Chris Hennessy (Regional Manager, Senator Debbie Stabenow). - Courtesy photo by Dave Mitchell, DTE Energy

Sign and tree dedicated along the refuge's Woodland Trail. - FWS photo by Steve Kahl

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge hosted an event on October 17, 2007, to celebrate the partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Detroit Edison, and The Conservation Fund to reduce greenhouse gases, improve wildlife habitat, and preserve land. 

Detroit Edison donated $100,000 to The Conservation Fund to establish a land acquisition fund and another $80,000 to aid in the reforestation of 180 acres at the refuge.  A luncheon was provided at the refuge’s Green Point Environmental Learning Center with remarks given by Midwest Regional Director Robyn Thorson, The Conservation Fund President Larry Selzer, and Detroit Edison Vice President Skiles Boyd. 

Remarks were followed by a tree planting and sign dedication ceremony at the refuge’s Woodland Trail and a tour of the refuge for attendees.  The event was also attended by staff from the offices of U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Representatives Dale Kildee and Dave Camp.

"Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge has been a proud partner in this community for 55 years," said Thorson.  "We know that conservation depends on partnerships, and we are grateful for corporations such as Detroit Edison and organizations like The Conservation Fund who work with us to restore our nation's natural resources."

Skiles Boyd said the partnership makes perfect sense for the utility company, even though the connection might not be immediately evident.  “Detroit Edison supports reforestation projects for several reasons, including their ability to sequester carbon dioxide, which is emitted from our power plants,” he said.  “While the trees will produce carbon emission credits for the utility, we also appreciate that these projects increase wildlife habitat and enhance recreational opportunities.”

“We applaud Detroit Edison for its leadership in protecting the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge,” said Larry Selzer.  “As DTE has demonstrated, carbon sequestration offers corporate America a new tool for preserving and restoring natural areas.  We’re pleased to help the company bring its efforts to this extraordinary part of Michigan.”

To address the many concerns over climate change, the U.S. Department of Energy established the Global Climate Challenge Program.  One important aspect of the program calls for a reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. 

A portion of the GHG reduction program calls for the sequestration of carbon in biomass.  One of the methods of GHG reduction utilizes trees, which are natural carbon sinks, because they take carbon dioxide out of the air and sequester it in living plant tissue.  Thus, reforestation is a scientifically recognized way to sequester carbon from our atmosphere.

The Service entered into this partnership with Detroit Edison and The Conservation Fund to restore native forest habitat at Shiawassee Refuge that in turn will result in carbon sequestration.  This effort was launched on the ground on Arbor Day 2007 when crews began planting 180 acres of refuge lands with over 53,000 tree seedlings. 

Tree species included American sycamore, bur oak, white oak, northern red oak, red maple, silver maple, black walnut, and common hackberry.  Gaps between existing refuge woodlands will fill in to create larger forest blocks to benefit numerous wildlife species, including wood duck, barred owl, eastern wood-pewee, wood thrush, American redstart, and scarlet tanager.

Additionally, this partnership will yield a $100,000 fund to acquire land for reforestation and addition to Shiawassee Refuge.  This fund is critical because land acquisition is one of the refuge’s greatest challenges. 

The refuge is authorized to acquire an additional 7,000 acres.  During the last two years, the refuge has been approached by the sellers of 14 tracts totaling over 1,100 acres.  However, land acquisition funding has been almost nonexistent and almost all of these tracts have since been sold.  This fund is gives the refuge a better chance to protect lands in the fu