NewPage, Rodale Institute Announce Environmental Strategic Partnership

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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, this week announced its environmental strategic partnership with Rodale Inc. and the Rodale Institute, Kutztown, Pa., "on two ground-breaking initiatives to put trees and agriculture to work to improve the health of the planet." The first initiative, Tree as a Crop, is designed to educate farmers and small forest landowners about the environmental, social, and economic rewards of properly growing and harvesting trees. It will encourage the natural cycle of planting, harvesting, and replanting trees to be as routine a practice as is the production of other crops, and one that achieves bio-diversity, economic returns, and positive environmental change.

The second initiative involves a fourth partner, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and is titled Eco4 the planet, a demonstration project through which approximately 3,000 trees will be planted and organically grown at The Kellogg Conservation Center (Berkshire County, Mass.), a working farm adjacent to the world-renowned Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Additionally, 20 acres of soil will become healthier by being transitioned to organic methods, and local farmers with a vibrant Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program will farm the land, utilizing the proven techniques of the Rodale Institute.

"The Tree as a Crop and Eco4 the planet initiatives will act as a catalyst for change in regional and global agriculture and wood management practices. Our goal is for the Tree as a Crop program to be echoed in towns and farms across the country, and Eco4 the planet is our first step in making this happen," said Anita Patterson, VP, Green Culture Services at Rodale. "Together, the partners are taking our message of organic practices from the Rodale Institute to a community along the Appalachian Trail that is already committed to agriculture, much of it organic. It's a model we hope spreads across the country, and across the world." More information is available online.