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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NATURE CONSERVANCY CONTRIBUTES TO FOOTHILLS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER BOISE, ID, May 10, 2004 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The Nature Conservancy has committed to funding interpretive signs and landscaping for the Foothills Environmental Learning Center, to be located in the Hulls Gulch area of the Boise Foothills. Ground-breaking for the center was held on April 19. The City of Boise, Ada County and the Bureau of Land Management are contributing funds for construction of the building. Other partners include Boise Cascade Corporation, Idaho Power, The Golden Eagle Audubon Society, Sustainable Idaho and United Water. When completed, the 3300-square-foot center will feature an educational laboratory for students and a meeting room. The facility will incorporate many sustainable elements, including a fuel cell demonstration project by IdaTech, an Idaho Power subsidiary. The Boise Foothills is one of The Nature Conservancy's seven priority conservation areas in Idaho. The area provides winter habitat for the largest mule deer herd in the state and is home to rare plant species, some found nowhere else on Earth. Migrating raptors and songbirds use the ridges as staging areas for migrations to Central and South America. Wetlands, streams and sagebrush provide habitat for a wide variety of species. But this area also faces tremendous threats from non-native weeds and altered fire systems. The Nature Conservancy believes that one of the best ways to protect the Foothills from these threats is by educating the many Idaho residents who visit and recreate in this area The interpretive signs will educate students and visitors about Foothills ecology, ecological threats and ways visitors can help protect the Foothills through their actions. The Conservancy will also fund landscaping that incorporates native plants and fire-wise principles. Yvonne Ferrell, a Nature Conservancy trustee and former director of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, is chairing a committee that is designing an educational and interpretive program for the center. The center is scheduled for completion this fall. CONTACT: Matt Miller (208) 343-8826 x20 m_miller |
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