internationalizing the corporate wetlands restoration partnership dr. karla heidelberg u.s....

Internationalizing the Corporate Wetlands

Restoration Partnership

Dr. Karla HeidelbergU.S. Department of State

(for George Olson)

Public/private collaboration of government agencies, business, and NGOs to preserve and restore wetlands and associated habitats.

Sagamore Marsh Restoration, MA Ed Bills Pond Fish Ladder, CT

What is the CWRP?

Business, the new player – provides key match needed to leverage government & foundation funds, for government-approved projects

PARTNERS

Federal Partners: Coastal America Partnership comprised of 12 government entities

(Agriculture, Air Force, Army, Navy, Commerce, Defense, Energy, HUD, Interior, State, Transportation, US EPA)

Executive Office of the President, CEQ - Chair

Community State & Local Governments

NGOs (e.g., Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy) Universities (e.g., UMASS and URI)

> 140 Corporate Partners

Sponsor National Association of Manufacturers

Corporate Members Duke Energy, Chair The Gillette Company,

Founding Corp. & Vice Chair Battelle ENSR International FMC Corporation JEM Environmental, Founder

Advisors Restore America’s Estuaries Coastal America

Organized by a National Advisory Council

Voluntary Participation with contributions to 501(3)(c)

Foundation

• Mitigation projects & permit-related conditions, not

accepted

Simple goal: Preservation, enhancement, restoration, &

education

Organization: National Council coordinating State Boards

Key Points for National Program

BPExploration

Restore America’s Estuaries (PAC-NW)

Dow Chemical

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline

PSEG & LME Consulting(NY/NJ & Mid-Atlantic)

Duke Energy & Gillette

Implementation Status

Duke Energy

Battelle(FL & Southeast)Legend

EstablishedFramework & Process DevelopedEarly Planning StagesNot Yet Active

Gillette (MA & NE)ESS & Narragansett Elec.

Jacques Whitford & PSNH

NE Utilities & Duracell

Results to Date

> 140 Corporate Partners cooperating with state and federal agencies and NGOs.

> $2.5 million in pledged funds & in-kind services used to leverage > $10 M in matching state/federal grants.

Initiated 85 projects nationwide.

20 restoration projects completed to date• > 1000 acres of aquatic habitat restored• > 300 linear miles of riparian & anadromous fish habitat opened.

Benefits of Partnership

Tax-deductible contributions provide local match required to leverage federal dollars.

Expedites project implementation. Improves stakeholder buy in/trust for environmental

awareness. Expands public-private partnerships. Unique opportunity for corporate citizenship. Tangible improvements & highly visible projects. Positive media/public relations & high-level recognition. Clear societal, environmental & economic benefits.

Support & Recognition Presidential recognition (Bush I and II)

“My Administration strongly supports efforts like this that bring together a variety of resources – public, corporate, and nonprofit – that meet common goals and address challenging environmental and economic needs. I appreciate your dedication to making this partnership grow and succeed in restoring our wetlands and aquatic resources.”- President George W. Bush

Widespread bipartisan endorsement

Support of regulatory agencies & community groups

High-level recognition

CWRP makes good sense!

Benefits for the community,

environment and business.

Internationalizing CWRP (ICWRP)

Adapt highly flexible framework & processes of CWRP to different international situations.

Develop self-sustaining international stakeholder consortiums.

Enhance existing organizations and create new synergies (no need for new institutions)

Objectives

Duke Energy providing leadership for the development of a similar program in Canada

Gillette providing leadership for a modified program designed for developing countries

• Developing broad international frameworks utilizing existing international structures with similar missions.

• Working on two program options

International Ramsar Convention for Wetlands

I-CWRP Framework

N eo tro p ica l S m a ll G ran ts P gmW ider

C aribbean R egion

R am sar M o d elSm all-M ed. P ro jects for a Specif ic R egion

U N F P artnership M o d elLarge, targetted pro jects

M exicoS ian Ka 'an P ilo tU N F , T N C , G ille tte

D evelo p in g Co u ntr iesfram ew ork

C an adaP ilo t

D evelo p ed C o un tr iesfor exam ple

In ternational CW RPG lobal Adv isory C ouncil

UNESCO World

Heritage Program

COUNTRY

RAMSAR

Priority

Site Selection/Priority

- Target sites already recognize as important

- Use existing international program structure

I-CWRP – “Potential” Partners

Primary Agencies/Foundations: Ramsar, UNESCO & UNF

Special Advisors

•Other UN Agencies, Coastal America/CAF, US State Dept., US FWS, NOAA, EPA, related agencies in other countries.

Business

•Gillette & Duke Energy, UNF Members, CWRP Partners (e.g., BP, GE), Advisors (e.g., NAM, International Chamber of Commerce)

Conservation Groups

•The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Restore America's Estuaries, Sierra Club, Audubon, WWF, BirdLife Inter., & National Geographic Society.

Academia: Both in country and US programs

Local Communities: Involvement critical. Developing mechanisms to ensure local involvement

Visit our websites athttp://www.CWRP.org

http://www.CoastalAmerica.gov

Contact:George L. OlsonThe Gillette CompanyCWRP National Advisory Council, Vice-Chair781.292.8141George_Olson@Gillette.com