Reforesting Yazoo national wildlife refuge 10-13-2010

A MAJOR EFFORT IS UNDERWAY TO REFOREST MORE THAN 500 ACRES IN THE YAZOO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. THE ENTERGY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED A $250,000 GRANT TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TO PLANT 400,000 TREES IN THE YAZOO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON COUNTY. THE GOAL IS TO RESTORE THE NATURAL HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS AND GAME. "THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND MISSISSIPPI FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVE TO HELP HARDWOOD TREES HERE," SAID HALEY FISACKERLY, PRESIDENT SND C.E.O. OF ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI. "THIS WILL HELP REFOREST THIS AREA TO HELP WILDLIFE, TO HELP THE CLIMATE, TO HELP WITH CLEAN WATER, SO ENTERGY TODAY WILL ANNOUNCE A $250,000 GRANT TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TO BE USED TO PLANT ABOUT 500 ACRES. THAT WILL BE MATCHED WITH OTHER DOLLARS WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, SO TO HAVE A TOTAL IMPACT OF SOME 900 ACRES AND 400,000 TREES." EDUCATION IS ALSO A FOCUS. PROJECT LEADERS HOPE STUDENTS WILL GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF FLOODPLAIN FORESTS, AND THE BENEFITS CREATED THROUGH CONSERVATION. "FOR ALL OF US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT. FOR ONE, IT CAPTURES CARBON, AND IT MAKES IT A BETTER PLACE, IT HELPS PRESERVE GOOD AIR, IT GIVES US BETTER WATER," SAID MARSHA BARBOUR, FIRST LADY OF MISSISSIPPI. "SO ALL THESE THINGS WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT AND CARING ABOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT NEED TO ENJOY ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE HAD AT OUR FINGER TIPS. AND THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO IS TRY TO PRESERVE THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM." THE TREES ARE ALREADY BEING PLANTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE PLANTED IN THE COMING MONTHS.