CNW.ca: Shell Conservation Interns
Posted 21 August 2004-08-21
CALGARY, Aug. 20 /CNW/ - The Nature Conservancy of
Canada (NCC) and Shell
Canada have concluded this year's Shell Conservation Internship program by
bringing the 16 students to Calgary for a workshop and field trip, and by
launching a website for the program. The program is a unique partnership
between Shell and NCC that, each year, provides
university and college
students with practical conservation work on NCC properties, including some of
Canada's most endangered landscapes. The 16 interns have come from across
Canada to Shell Canada's Calgary office to relate their experiences and share
their views on the environment and sustainable development with Shell Canada
management and staff.
Describing his field experience as "a rare adventure," Shell Conservation
Intern Mark Alexander MacDonald spent his summer surveying flora and birdlife,
and documenting rare species on NCC sites in the Atlantic provinces. Morgan
Hill, one of the Alberta-based interns, made observations and collected
project data at Horseshoe Canyon. The information will be used in a monitoring
report that tracks changes in the ecology of the site over time.
The two-day event provides an opportunity for the interns to meet one
another and to learn from one another's experiences. The interns will present
the results of their summer's work and talk with Shell staff about current
environmental issues including climate change, water management, land use
issues and sustainable development. On Saturday, they will join Shell and NCC
staff in a one-day field trip to visit the site of one of Shell's reclamation
areas and to look at an important NCC property.
This year's interns will also get a first look at the new Shell
Conservation Interns website which will link them with previous Shell Interns
and provide "mentor moments" for experienced conservation professionals to
communicate with the interns. The website will also be used to recruit interns
for next year's program.
Shell Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada have been "natural
partners" in land conservation projects for almost 25 years. Over this time,
Shell has donated nearly $4 million in financial resources, volunteer support
and land and mineral rights, resulting in major achievements for conservation
in Canada. Earlier this year, the Company renewed its support of the Shell
Conservation Internship program with a $500,000 donation to support the
program through 2005.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is a non-profit, non-advocacy
organization that takes a business-like approach to land conservation and the
preservation of biological diversity. Its plan of action involves
partnership-building and entering into creative conservation solutions with
any individual, corporation, community group, conservation organization or
government body that shares its passion.
Since 1962, NCC and its supporters have protected more than 7,300 square
kilometers (1.8 million acres) of ecologically significant land nationwide.
In the past fiscal year, NCC has raised more than $50.8 million to support
this critical work, and has completed over 142 projects.
Shell Canada is one of the largest integrated petroleum compani
es in
Canada. Its corporate goals are leadership in profitability and profitable
growth, with an overarching commitment to sustainable development.
For further information: Interviews and photos are available by
contacting NCC. Jacqueline Waldorf, Manager, Media Public Relations,
Nature Conservancy of Canada, (416) 932-3202,
jacqueline.waldorf@natureconservancy.ca;
For information about Shell Canada and its commitment to sustainable development,
contact: Linda Sharp, Advisor, Public Affairs, Shell Canada Limited, (403) 691-3774,
Websites: www.natureconservancy.ca,
www.conservationinterns.ca, www.shell.ca
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/August2004/20/c2961.html