Weyerhaeuser's 'Cool Springs' Recognized by Audubon Society As an Important Bird Area in North Carolina.

Business Editors

NEW BERN, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2000

The National Audubon Society has recognized Weyerhaeuser's "Cool Springs" Environmental Education Forest as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in North Carolina.

A ceremony to mark the designation will be held on April 24 at Cool Springs.

According to Walker Golder, Audubon Society's IBA coordinator for North Carolina, Cool Springs is an important breeding and foraging habitat for many species of migratory songbirds. Some 30 species such as the Blue Grosbeak, the Summer Tanager and more than 20 kinds of warblers call Cool Springs home for part of their lives. These birds are known as neotropical migrants, because they spend part of the year in tropical climates near the equator and part of the year in temperate climates like eastern North Carolina.

The Important Bird Area program began in Europe in the 1980's and has since spread to North and South America, Africa and Asia. In 1995 the National Audubon Society, together with the American Bird Conservancy, took on administration of the IBA program in the United States. From its domestic beginnings in New York and Pennsylvania, IBA programs are now ongoing in 30 states, including North Carolina. Sites can be privately owned, like Cool Springs, or can be part of state or federal lands. The purpose of the Important Bird Area program is to identify sites that are important to bird populations and diversity, and work toward the long-term conservation of those sites, says Golder.

Weyerhaeuser is pleased that Cool Springs is among the first ten IBA sites recognized in North Carolina. The technical committee of the NC Audubon chapter has reviewed over 70 sites in all that might eventually make the IBA list. Jeff Hall, Environmental Educator at Cool Springs, says Weyerhaeuser adjusts its forestry activities on the site to conserve and enhance foraging and breeding habitats of the neo-tropicals. "When I catch a bright red glimpse of the Summer Tanager flying through the pines, or hear the distinctive call of the Prothonotary Warbler, I'm proud that we manage these acres with the needs of the birds in mind."

Says Golder, "One of the goals of the Important Bird Area program is to educate the public about birds and the importance of habitat conservation. We can collect valuable data at IBA sites and we strive to work cooperatively with landowners and land managers, such as Weyerhaeuser, so that what we learn can be shared and the program can grow."

The Cool Springs Environmental Education Forest is 1700 acres of mixed pine and hardwood, and bottomland hardwood forest on a triangular piece of land between the Neuse River and Swift Creek. Its proximity to New Bern makes it a favorite spot for school groups to learn about wildlife conservation, forest stewardship and other environmental issues. Since its opening four years ago, Cool Springs has hosted over 10,000 students from all over eastern North Carolina. In addition to the bird species for which it is being recognized, Cool Springs is also home to other plant and animal species of importance to North Carolina like the longleaf pine, the Atlantic white cedar, the eastern black bear and the fox squirrel.

Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY), one of the world's largest integrated forest products companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 1999, sales were $12.3 billion. It has offices or operations in 13 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities. Weyerhaeuser came to North Carolina in 1957 and now operates 16 facilities in ten communities across the state. The company is one of North Carolina's largest private landowners, managing over 560,000 acres primarily for the commercial production of southern yellow pine. Additional information about Weyerhaeuser's businesses, products and practices is available at www.weyerhaeuser.com.