The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana Completes Its Largest Financial Acquisition of An Important Conservation Area With Purchase of 4,750 Acres From Plum Creek Timber Company.

WEST MONROE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 1999--

--Valuable red-cockaded woodpecker habitat to become part of the

Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge--

The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana (TNC) announced today the purchase of approximately 4,750 acres from Plum Creek Timber Company, L.P. (NYSE:PCL).

The Nature Conservancy plans to transfer the tract to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) over a five-year period to add to the existing Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge for migratory bird conservation.

According to Lisa Creasman, state director for The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, "The cornerstone of The Conservancy's success is finding common ground and forging effective partnerships. Plum Creek was instrumental in creating a unique agreement which limited our risk and facilitated the project, making it a `win-win' for all parties. This acquisition, valued at approximately $8.7 million, represents the largest financial transaction in the history of The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana."

"The people of Louisiana and Arkansas are the real winners," said Lindsay Crawford, Plum Creek's vice president, Southern Region. "We strive to find conservation buyers for unique properties with extraordinary public value and congratulate The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on their efforts to complete this transaction. We are excited about the habitat enhancements this area provides for the red-cockaded woodpecker and many other species."

"This is a good example of a partnership between private industry, a non-profit organization and a federal agency and what can be accomplished when we work together. These lands, which include a portion of Finch Lake, will be an important addition to the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge," said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast regional director for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The property is located north of Monroe in Union Parish and will add approximately 4,750 acres of natural pine forest to the existing 37,000-acre Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, providing a corridor connecting the two existing units of the refuge. The parcel also supports an important bird conservation area in the ecoregion. Currently, there are five active clusters of red-cockaded woodpeckers, an endangered species, on the property. U.S. Fish & Wildlife officials project that this acquisition may ultimately make it possible to support up to twenty clusters once a conservation management plan has been implemented.

The Conservancy's mission is to protect plants, animals and the natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Using a non-confrontational approach, the Conservancy works in partnership to effectively protect rare habitat and create a legacy for future generations. The Nature Conservancy is an international non-profit organization that relies on private donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to accomplish important conservation efforts.

Plum Creek is an integrated forest products company with more than 3.3 million acres located in the Pacific Northwest, Southeast and Northeast United States.

More information on Plum Creek Timber Co. may be accessed at: http://www.businesswire.com/cnn/pcl.htm or by fax at 888/329-4694.