BASF Corporation, Fighting Island

Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., New Beginnings - The Woodlawn Wildlife Area

BASF Corporation, Fighting Island

Habitat projects on BASF Corporation’s 1,200-acre Fighting Island site benefit wildlife and increase environmental awareness among employees, community members, students and government agencies through implementation of a cohesive, long-term wildlife management plan. BASF's current goal for Fighting Island, which is located on the Canadian side of the Detroit River, is to provide a native vegetative cover that eliminates dusting concerns, protects the surface of the dikes and settling beds from erosion, and provides habitat for wildlife while enhancing the community in which the island resides.

The wildlife team planted more than 200,000 seedlings, including poplar, native shrubs and berry bushes on the island. Recently developed projects will convert existing runoff canals into marshlands, control invasive plant species on existing man-made marshes, manage habitat for migratory bird species, and add habitat components for cavity-nesting species.

Fighting Island developed a number of partnerships for their environmental stewardship efforts. Fighting Island is a part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Greater Detroit American River Heritage Initiative and Canadian Heritage Rivers System. The site is also a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever.

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at Fighting Island uses a revitalized island habitat as an outdoor laboratory to study the environment and the environmental impacts of humans, including efforts to enhance and improve our environment. The dedicated site team, with the help of a cadre of local teachers and administrators, produces distinct standards-based curricula for local students.

Fighting Island offers annual "Train the Teachers" events and now hosts hundreds of students each semester at the premier CLL facility. All programs allow students to “do science as science is done,” through hands-on, research based programs conducted both in the field on Fighting Island, and in their indoor science lab. Student-gathered data is integral to the long-term monitoring and enhancement of the Fighting Island wildlife habitat.

Fighting Island will receive a plaque recognizing their Signatures of Sustainability designation on Saturday, June 10, 2008, as part of Adventure in the Refuge. The event is a fundraiser in support of the development of the Detroit River Interational Wildlife Refuge.

Download the flyer and register to attend the event.

Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., New Beginnings - The Woodlawn Wildlife Area

New Beginnings - The Woodlawn Wildlife Area is a former landfill listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities List (a list of Superfund sites) due to groundwater contamination. Working closely with EPA and state agencies, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. implemented a clean up action at the landfill that includes adding two-foot soil cap and groundwater monitoring. Bridgestone assumed responsibility for the remediation of the site and as part of their management approach is implementing a wildlife habitat enhancement program in association with WHC and community groups. Purchasing 58 acres of land adjacent to the landfill, Bridgestone, in collaboration with WHC, has focused on this area for community involvement and environmental education.

Management of wildlife habitat at New Beginnings is facilitated through community volunteerism in Cecil County. The New Beginnings wildlife team consists of representatives from Bridgestone, WHC, Maryland Cooperative Extension, Fair Hill Nature Center, Boys and Girls Club of Cecil County, Maryland, Arcadis, several public and private schools within the county and local bluebird expert and WHC 2001 Community Partner of the Year award winner, Jerry Newman. Together, the team works to enhance habitat for native wildlife, manage the encroachment of invasive species and develop environmental education programs for students of all ages within Cecil County.

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at New Beginnings seeks to involve the community through environmental education programs that incorporate both habitat management and educational components. The site coordinator and volunteer teams host both on-site and off-site workshops to educate area residents about invasive plant species and land-management techniques. Events for National Pollinator Week and Earth Day were well-attended in 2007.

The CLL program promotes quality wildlife habitat at New Beginnings and in the surrounding community through an “action-focused” curriculum that provides opportunities for groups such as the Cecil County Master Gardeners. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts conduct hands-on restoration programs to improve habitat and complete merit badge and community service requirements. Girl Scout Troop 629 visits New Beginnings to work towards their Bronze Award. A Boy Scout from Troop 143 is working to complete his Eagle Scout project by clearing a large area along Firetower Road. The project will remove invasive plant species and plant a native hedgerow of small trees and shrubs.

Please check back for more information on the site's Signature event as it becomes available.