CVPS Wins National Land Management Award.

RUTLAND, Vt. -- Central Vermont Public Service has received the National Wild Turkey Federation's 2005 Land Stewardship Award for its strong support of the NWTF and the company's land management efforts on behalf of wild turkeys and other wildlife.

Central Vermont Public Service is actively involved in land stewardship, environmental protection and community service through innovative programs, development of renewable resources, osprey and eagle restoration and wildlife education.

CVPS has supported the efforts of the NWTF to protect fall and winter food supplies for turkeys and other wildlife by sponsoring the Operation Appleseed program and participation in the Energy for Wildlife Program. The company employs six foresters with degrees in biology, forestry and related fields.

"Central Vermont Public Service has been affiliated with the federation for many years. They were the first certified members of the NWTF's Energy for Wildlife Program," said Dr. James Earl Kennamer, NWTF senior vice president for conservation programs. "This company has shown great leadership by using sound land management practices that resulted in great benefits to wildlife. Their support of our conservation efforts and programs has helped us achieve our wild turkey conservation goals."

The NWTF has presented the Land Stewardship Award each year since 1994 for excellence in land management, partnerships and NWTF project support. The award recognizes the organization that has done the most outstanding job of benefiting natural resources through land stewardship and partnerships.

"We believe that putting the environment first is the right thing to do, and it makes good business sense," President Bob Young said. "Our Forestry Department has designed management practices that actually improve wildlife habitat, while reducing outages."

The company plants low-growing trees, such as crabapples, in rights-of-way to edge out taller-growing species and provide browse and feed for wildlife. The practice helps reduce the amount of cutting needed to maintain rights-of-way, which in turn reduces the use of chainsaws, chain oil and combustible fuel.

CVPS has also actively works to limit the use of herbicides. Through careful forestry management, the company has reduced herbicide use by about 90 percent over the past 20 years.

CVPS has also actively worked to restore ospreys to Vermont, working with the Department of Fish & Wildlife and customer Meeri Zetterstrom for over a decade. Ospreys are being removed from the endangered species list this year.

In 2004, CVPS also joined the Vermont Bald Eagle Restoration Initiative, working with the state, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Federation, Outreach for Earth Stewardship and Sen. James Jeffords to help restore the national symbol to Vermont.

"Our employees have used innovation and their love for the outdoors to minimize the effects of our business, and give back to the environment," Young said. "This award is testimony to their hard work."