Chevy Rooted in California Forest Management Project

Jun 17, 2013 2:45 PM ET
Campaign: GM Energy Efficiency
The Gualala River winds through Northern California before it empties into the Pacific Ocean.

GM BeyondNow

Since 2011, Chevrolet has invested in numerous community-based projects that have had a positive impact on people, jobs and the environment. From cutting back on truckers’ engine idling to reforesting areas decimated by forest fires, Chevy is committed to helping protect the environment through its carbon-reduction program.

Its latest project is collaborating with The Conservation Fund to reduce 190,000 metric tons of carbon over four years and conserve 13,913 acres of timberlands in Northern California known as the Gualala River forest. This project helps ensure the land will be sustainably harvested to restore and maintain a healthy balance of trees, water quality and local jobs.

The 14,000-acre forest full of redwoods and Douglas firs was once at risk of being clear-cut to make room for wine grapes from emerging nearby vineyards.  Forests are important because they capture carbon dioxide and store large quantities of it in their trunks and roots. Cutting down trees means releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Preserving the Gualala River Forest benefits many species that call the property home, from spotted owl to coho salmon and steelhead trout. Sustainably managed forests can result in healthier streams for fish. In fact, strategically placing logs throughout the rivers and streams can lower water temperatures and provide much needed cover for fish to rest and hide.

According to The Conservation Fund, well-managed forests can be both economically viable and ecologically sustainable. With this project, the Fund is demonstrating an approach that balances environmental restoration with and effort to sustain the local timber economy.

This is just one of many projects that Chevy is investing in to work toward a more sustainable future. To date, it has secured commitments for nearly 7 million metric tons in its goal to prevent up to 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the earth’s atmosphere.

Gualala River is not alone in receiving Chevy’s support. The brand has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to improve forest management in Pennsylvania and the reforestation efforts of the San Juan National Forest in Colorado.