Exxon Mobil Corporation’s Clinton Research Facility in New Jersey has received the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) certification for efforts to conserve and restore natural ecosystems in and around company operations. This was one of four ExxonMobil sites awarded – including others in Texas, Montana and Wyoming – and marks the third time the site has received this prestigious honor.
When WHC was formed in 1988, the founders conceived a new and innovative concept of bringing together conservation and business. This was the first cooperative effort between the environmental community and industry.
The Clinton Research Facility was one of 214 sites recognized at the 2008 symposium for creating a Wildlife at Work program. In addition, 97 Corporate Lands for Learning programs reach thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.
“Exxon Mobil Corporation is dedicated to preserving wildlife and ecosystems around the globe and that includes here in Clinton, N.J.,” said Emil Jacobs, vice president of Research and Development for ExxonMobil. “We accept this year’s positive recognition from the Wildlife Habitat Council for the work we have done to improve wildlife habitat at the Clinton facility. We are proud of our work and often share it with visitors for them to enjoy and experience.”
“This year, our 20th Anniversary, WHC celebrates two decades of solid leadership and on-the-ground achievements by our members in wildlife habitat preservation and conservation education,” said Robert Johnson, WHC president. “WHC members are continuing to lead the way to further define and demonstrate how corporations can use their lands to preserve our biodiversity, while preparing new generations through conservation education to understand how to be better leaders and managers for tomorrow’s sustainable businesses and communities. Congratulations to ExxonMobil for their volunteer-based efforts to preserve the biodiversity of their community and the world, and to connect people to nature.”
The Clinton Research Facility in New Jersey recently was certified as a “Corporate Lands for Learning Site.” Located in rural New Jersey, two-thirds of the 750-acre site is available for wildlife habitat projects. Site activities include bluebird boxes, native bird habitats and environmental education activities with the local community.
Each year, the site’s wildlife team hosts a workshop on Take Your Child to Work Day designed to teach children about the biological diversity and habitat niches found on the site and foster general environmental awareness about the region. Employees assist local elementary and middle schools with field-based ecology lessons, curriculum enhancements, and tours of the site grounds and laboratories.
Additionally, the site hosts high school students as part of ExxonMobil’s Green Team Summer Jobs program where participants work to improve trail systems and learn about the environment.
About ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation is a leading international energy company whose subsidiaries have operations in most of the world's countries. In the United States, ExxonMobil has significant exploration and production, refining and marketing and chemicals operations. ExxonMobil is one of the largest oil and gas producers and reserves holders in the United States, with a portfolio including Alaska, onshore Gulf Coast and deepwater Gulf of Mexico. In addition, there are approximately 13,000 Exxon and Mobil branded service stations in the U.S., as well as seven refineries, four of which are integrated petrochemical facilities.
About Wildlife Habitat Council
Celebrating 20 years in conservation, the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a non-profit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than 2.4 million acres in 46 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects.
