Making an investment in the future of youth and conservation, DuPont Pioneer has extended its support of the Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Youth Pollinator Habitat Program for 2016. The support allows “The Habitat Organization” to work with local chapters, communities, and students by offering pollinator habitat project grants to educational institutions and youth groups interested in learning about conservation through hands-on implementation.
“Engaging youth, families and communities to establish and promote pollinator environments is critical for ensuring sustainable wildlife and pollinator habitats for future generations,” said Dawn Rittenhouse, director of Sustainability at DuPont. “We’re proud to support the great work of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in the field of conservation and look forward to seeing the outcomes of this unique program.”
The
Youth Pollinator Habitat Program aims to support over 750 grassroots Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever chapters nationwide to engage youth groups, families and communities in establishing pollinator habitat projects. The objectives of this program are to increase awareness of pollinator populations, educate the general public on the importance of habitat for pollinators, and to establish quality pollinator habitat throughout the country. Since the program’s inception in 2013, more than 5,700 participants have established 78 pollinator projects nationwide to positively impact 126 acres for pollinators and other wildlife.
Pollinators supply around one-third of all food consumed by humans – including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and coffee. Habitat needed to sustain populations of honeybees and monarch butterflies is also the very same diverse grassland and prairie flower habitat required for pheasants and other wildlife. Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever chapters who host Youth Pollinator Habitat Program events not only benefit birds, bees and other wildlife, but also provide educational opportunities in conservation for a variety of demographics.
“The DuPont Pioneer investment in our youth habitat program is essential for helping to educate thousands of people nationwide on the value of sound conservation practices that provide habitat for pollinators, pheasants, quail, and other wildlife,” explained Drew Larsen, national habitat education specialist for Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever.
Financial support from the DuPont Pioneer Giving Program will be matched 1:1 by Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever chapters to support the following goals of the grant:
- Complete 100 Youth Pollinator Habitat Program projects
- Create model projects to replicate the success of the program
- Create a minimum of 50 acres of highly diverse native wildflower plantings
- Educate 2,500 youth and 200 adults about the importance of pollinator habitat and conservation
For more information about Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Youth Pollinator Habitat Program, contact Drew Larsen at 308-293-1194 or
email.
DuPont Pioneer is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success®.
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit
www.dupont.com.
About Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 145,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $634 million on 502,000 habitat projects benefiting 14.1 million acres nationwide.
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org