Bridgestone's Aiken Plant Uses its Greenspace to Restore Native Habitat Costs and Benefits of Habitat Restoration Costs Internal program costs— organizing a wildlife habitat team and managing the process. Low capital costs—tree planting, erosion control, birdhouses, trails, etc. Application and membership feestoWHCfor certification. Savings and Other Benefits Improved facility environmental footprint. Promotes employee and community engagement. Educates stakeholders on environmental stewardship. Provides a highly visible demonstration of environmental leadership. National Environmental PerformanceTrack U.S. Environmental Protection Agency United States Environmental Protection Agency PERFORMANCE TRACK FACILITY Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC, Aiken County Plant, Graniteville, South Carolina RELATED INDICATORS Related Indicators: Land and Habitat Conservation OVERVIEW As facilities look for new ways to improve site-wide environmental quality, wildlife habitat programs offer easy-to-implement opportunities for ecological stewardship and community outreach. Through its wildlife habitat program, Bridgestone's Aiken Plant (Bridgestone Aiken) has successfully restored 300 acres of native longleaf pine habitat on its site in the sandhills of mid-western South Carolina. Bridgestone Aiken seized an opportunity to make better use of its site land and demonstrate a strong commitment to being a steward of the area's natural resources for future generations. In 2007, the Bridgestone Aiken habitat program received certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), a nonprofit organization that forms partnerships with companies to preserve and restore natural lands. The longleaf pine forest provides a focus for much of the habitat enhancement efforts conducted by the site's 75-member wildlife team. Certification by WHC validates the facility's wildlife habitat projects to employees as well as to the community at large. As part of its restoration efforts, Bridgestone has planted 15,000 longleaf pine seedlings on 55 acres since 2007. In addition, more than 100 acres of existing longleaf stands were treated for control of non-native, invasive species. During the habitat restoration effort, 175 middle school students received instruction on longleaf habitat and planted 200 seedlings. The longleaf pine, a rare species native to the southeastern United States, is a slow-growing tree and often loses ground to faster-growing invasive species. Bridgestone's work has been instrumental in bringing this impressive pine species, and its diverse habitat, back to the South Carolina woodlands. WHC CERTIFICATION AND HABITAT RESTORATION AT THE BRIDGESTONE AIKEN SITE Commitment from corporate and facility upper management has been instrumental in Bridgestone Aiken's habitat restoration efforts. Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., is a WHC corporate member, with many facilities participating in wildlife habitat management programs. To renew its WHC certification, Bridgestone's participating facilities must submit an annual report, which demonstrates that the facility land management practices have met WHC's stringent standards. Bridgestone Aiken's ISO- certified environmental management system (EMS) has helped immensely in this effort, and the National Environmental Performance Track program provided the facility with an opportunity to report and document the success of the habitat program as it was being developed. ------- Volunteers from the local middle school prepare the land for longleafpine saplings. Bridgestone Aiken's habitat objectives were set in accordance with WHC requirements, and the wildlife team leaders worked with various stakeholder groups—including conservation groups and scientists—to ensure that the program met WHC standards. The minimum requirements for WHC certification include participation in a site visit and site-wide analysis by a WHC wildlife biologist. In addition, applicants must demonstrate that all four components of a habitat—food, water, cover/shelter, and space suitable to animals' needs—have been actively maintained and monitored for a minimum of one year prior to applying for certification. Project leaders receive management support and commitment and maintain ongoing, open communication with WHC staff, contractors, vendors, and employees. Other key stakeholders include WHC wildlife biologists, local foresters, the Silver Bluff Audubon Society, and local volunteers (e.g., girl scouts and students from local schools). With habitat projects, Bridgestone's experience has shown that it is important to start with a small goal, such as bluebird houses, to obtain initial successes, and then to build toward larger goals. IMPLEMENTATION OF BRIDGESTONE AIKEN'S WILDLIFE HABITAT PROJECT The Bridgestone Aiken longleaf pine project began with the assembly of a 75-member wildlife team composed of volunteers from the plant and community. Three members of the team were trained in prescribed burn management; the team intends to manage the longleaf pine forest with prescribed burns every two to three years. Since longleaf pines are highly resistant to fire, periodic natural wildfire benefits this species by clearing out invasive plants and promoting the unique biodiversity that grows in a healthy longleaf pine habitat. The red-cockaded woodpecker, for example, is dependent on longleaf pine forests, and is now endangered as a result of its decline. The facility planted native wildflowers and grasses on approximately 30 acres of land bordering the longleaf pine project, and planted longleaf seedlings on an additional 23 barren acres on the site. The list below describes additional actions that contributed toward WHC certification at Bridgestone Aiken, including outreach and reporting: * 175 middle school students received instruction on longleaf pine habitat and planted 200 seedlings. * Team members installed and continue to monitor 17 bluebird-nesting boxes. * Team members constructed a 20'x40' water garden. * Contractor estimates were used to determine the area treated for control of non-native, invasive species. One of the biggest challenges faced by Bridgestone Aiken has been to focus its habitat conservation efforts. The high level of interest in volunteering for the programs and the numerous team members and partners involved has resulted in many different project suggestions, which have been challenging to manage and prioritize. BENEFITS OF WHC CERTIFICATION AND HABITAT RESTORATION FOR BRIDGESTONE AIKEN By focusing on unused or underutilized lands, facilities can learn to manage greenspace in an ecologically sensitive manner to promote wildlife habitat and protect the environment. In addition to the ecological benefits of wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration, the greatest rewards for Bridgestone Aiken have come through educational and outreach opportunities. The facility has partnered with three different girl scout troops, Levelle-McCampbell Middle School 6th graders, and Aiken High School's horticulture class on various projects, including the planting of pines and the restoration of the fragile habitat that promotes healthy longleaf pine habitat. The Bridgestone habitat program has also empowered local staff to take an active role in reducing the facility's environmental footprint. Employees are citizens of their communities, and they are concerned about the environmental impact of the companies they work for. As a Bridgestone environmental manager pointed out, "[Employees] have friends, neighbors, and relatives, and it's nice for them to be able to share with them what they and their company are doing to protect the environment." RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION * The Wildlife Habitat Council [http://www.wildlifehc.org/] website has information on certification, membership, and how the organization can help corporations manage their unused land in an ecologically sensitive manner for the benefit of wildlife. * Bridgestone's community Web page [http://demos.icomstec. com/bridgestone/run/communityhtml] describes the company's commitment to habitat conservation and the conservation partners that have made its projects a success. ------- |