By the End of 2012, 7 Million Trees Will Be Planted as Part of the Enterprise 50 Million Tree Pledge
Nebraska City, Neb. (April 26, 2012) – For the seventh consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation and the United States Forest Service will use funding from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation to plant 1 million trees throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as part of the Enterprise 50 Million Tree Pledge.
The 2012 efforts bring the number of trees planted by the private/public/nonprofit partnership to 7 million. This year also marks the first time the Tree Pledge will result in newly planted trees in state forests.
The 50 Million Tree Pledge began in 2006 with a $50 million commitment by Enterprise to plant 50 million trees over 50 years. An interactive map of the plantings is available on the Enterprise "Driving Futures" sustainability website.
The Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service and Enterprise work together each year to identify planting projects that will address the greatest and most immediate reforestation needs, helping protect water resources and improve forests damaged by wildfires and invasive insects.
"While seven million trees is an exciting next step, this is only the beginning of Enterprise's multi-year, large-scale commitment to replanting in our nation's forests," said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The 2012 tree planting projects were selected with careful attention to level of need and the ability to have an impact. We're especially pleased to include often-overlooked state forests this year."
Approximately 6 million trees planted through the program's first six years are growing in forests across Alabama, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Canada, Germany, the U.K. and Scotland.
"For Enterprise, the 50 Million Tree Pledge is about conservation and enhancing the environment in the communities where we live and work," said Lee Broughton, head of sustainability, Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Car Rental and National Car Rental brands. "We've made a long-term commitment to support reforestation, and look forward to planting an additional 43 million trees over the next 43 years."
The 50 Million Tree Pledge planting projects for 2012 include:
• Blackwater River State Forest, Florida: 350,000 were planted in early 2012
• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California: 50,000 were planted in early 2012
• Manchester State Forest, South Carolina: 50,000 were planted in early 2012
• Black Hills National Forest, Wyoming and South Dakota: 150,000 trees to be planted in spring 2012
• Dixie National Forest, Utah: 50,000 to be planted in spring 2012
• Lolo National Forest, Montana: 90,000 to be planted in spring 2012
• Sequoia National Forest, California: 110,000 to be planted in spring 2012
• Manitoba, Canada: 50,000 to be planted in fall 2012
• United Kingdom: 100,000 to be planted in spring and fall 2012
More information about Enterprise's environmental initiatives is available at www.drivingfutures.com and forewords.drivingfutures.com.
About The Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found on arborday.org, or by visiting us on Facebook, Twitter or our blog.
About Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Founded in 1957 and known for an extensive network of locations, everyday low rates and outstanding customer service, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand that has been named to BusinessWeek magazine's annual list of "Customer Service Champs" in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. With more than 5,500 offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, Enterprise operates more than twice as many locations as its nearest competitor and continues to lead the home-city market, with local car rental revenues currently experiencing double-digit growth.
St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings owns and operates – through its regional subsidiaries – the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany and Ireland. With annual revenues of $14.1 billion and more than 70,000 employees, Enterprise Holdings also operates more than 1.2 million cars and trucks, making it the largest and most comprehensive car rental service provider in the world measured by revenue, employees and fleet. For more information about Enterprise's Corporate Sustainability Report or the brand's environmental stewardship and long-term commitment to the sustainability of its business, visit www.DrivingFutures.com and follow @LeeBroughton on Twitter.