August 15, 2007
Contact:
Trevor Fagan, Land Rover Las Vegas, 702.579.0400
Jena Thompson, The Conservation Fund, 954.456.4055
(Las Vegas, Nevada) – Land Rover Las Vegas and The Conservation Fund announced today a new partnership that addresses climate change by restoring forestland. For every new and Certified Pre-Owned Land Rover vehicle that Land Rover Las Vegas sells, a donation is made to The Conservation Fund to offset 100 percent of each vehicle’s CO2 emissions for 50,000 miles of driving. The cost of this program is covered by Land Rover Las Vegas and is not added to the price of any new vehicle.
The Conservation Fund will use these contributions to restore native forests which will neutralize the carbon dioxide produced by driving each vehicle 50,000 miles - estimated at about 32.6 tons. Land Rover Las Vegas expects that its CO2 Neutral initiative will enable the Fund to plant about 12,000 trees each year (about 24 trees per vehicle). Over their lifetime, these new forests will capture a nearly 16,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere. The World Bank estimates that 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions is caused by deforestation.
“Land Rover, as a company, is working to improve its fuel efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint – two important steps in an effort to reduce global greenhouse gasses,” said Ray DiNardi, General Manager of Land Rover Las Vegas. “Yet these advancements in technology will take time. We decided to partner with The Conservation Fund because we want to make an immediate impact on the ground, rather than wait until these technologies become more readily available.”
“We know that there is no silver bullet solution to climate change,” Mr. DiNardi stated, “but reforestation of once-forested, currently unproductive areas is a relatively simple and proven way to trap carbon dioxide. Trees act as natural air and water filters, help control flooding, restore wildlife habitat and create new public recreation areas.”
“Across the South, more than 20 million acres of native forestland was cleared for agriculture – land that today is no longer economically viable," said Mike Ford, Nevada and Southwest Director of The Conservation Fund. “Restoring these unproductive lands will take an ‘all hands on deck approach,’ and a blend of public and private financing.”
Donations from Land Rover Las Vegas will directly support The Conservation Fund’s Go ZeroSM, program. Through Go Zero, the Fund restores only native tree species, which are planted in protected areas with long-term management plans and independent, third-party verification to ensure accuracy and reliability of carbon sequestration. Go Zero provides additional environmental benefits including restored wildlife habitat, improved air and water quality and enhanced recreation areas.
Since 2000, The Conservation Fund has pioneered a market-based approach to conservation by restoring nearly 20,000 acres and planting 6 million trees through its carbon sequestration program. Over their lifetime, these trees will capture an estimated 7.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere. For more information and to calculate your own carbon footprint, visit www.conservationfund.org and www.gocarbonzero.org.
Note: This release has been updated since its original publication.
Land Rover Las Vegas is a part of the Findlay Automotive Group, which has been serving the Southern Nevada community since 1961. In that time, we have shown a history of environmental responsibility, both through active participation in local environmental organizations as well as our participation in TreadLightly®, which promotes education and responsible practice in outdoor recreation. Land Rover Las Vegas also takes every opportunity to teach environmental responsibility by holding customer driving events which teach the basics of enjoying the outdoors with a minimal impact. As residents of the great southwest, we love our natural surroundings and strive to be conscious environmental advocates. www.lrlv.com
From Wall Street to your street, 2008 has been a year of ups and downs. Here at The Conservation Fund, we continue to move steadily forward. Read about our 2008 successes »
From government agencies to corporations, from private landowners to land trusts and local communities, the Fund's partners seek our expertise to:
Powered by: Phase2 TechnologyThe Conservation Fund National Office
1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, Virginia 22209-2156
Phone: 703-525-6300
Fax: 703-525-4610
Email: postmaster@conservationfund.org
