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.
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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.
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