05 June 2001

VANCOUVER, Canada - Corporate sponsors are lining up to support the second year of Urban Stewards, an environmental education outreach program for kids in grades 5 to 7 organized by research institute Global Forest Society and the Stanley Park Ecology Society.

In its inaugural year, Urban Stewards guided 144 kids from five Vancouver classes through a yearlong, hands-on conservation curriculum focused on the importance of animals and plants to their neighbourhoods and the greater urban environment.

Through lessons at their schools and through field trips to Stanley Park, participating students created habitat for indigenous birds by building bird boxes, reclaimed land by planting gardens with native plants, and raised money for scientific equipment by hosting a native plant sale. They finished the kick-off year with big class projects that they presented last month.

Now 21 local businesses have contributed a portion of the Global Forest's annual budget for next year's Urban Stewards program, which begins this summer to get ready for the 2001-02 school year.

"We're thrilled that Vancouver's business community has stepped up to fund this great program for kids and ultimately the environment," says Dr. Reese Halter, president of Global Forest. "If we can show kids how forests work, they'll be committed forest stewards in the future. Our thanks go out to these forward-thinking businesses, and with the addition of each sponsor, we are reaching out to more kids."

Next year's Urban Steward sponsors include: Action Athletics Wear and Crest Ltd; AJ Graphics Ltd; Aquabus; Bob Rennie Marketing; Cats Only Veterinary Clinic; Eagle Spirit Gallery; Hoskin Scientific Ltd; Kensington Travel Ltd; Kimprints; Korva World Class Collision; Ms. Kaplan of Medicard Finance Inc.; Nemar; Pacific Boarders; Quick Cobbler; Rolfe, Benson Chartered Accountants; Super Valu - Davie Street; Takis Tavern Greek Restaurant; V&J Plants; Vancouver Architectural Antiques Ltd; Western Drum Recyclers; and Zippy Signs.

Businesses and individuals can call 604-733-2503 to donate or ask for more information.

Tuscon and Banff-based Global Forest Science (www.globalforestscience.org) is a forest biology research institute. With an international multi-disciplinary team of 165 scientists, Global Forest Science is a world leader in forest science research and has often been likened to the Red Adair's of the forest biology world. Global Forest Sciences' many victories ranging from legislation to protect the threatened westslope cutthroat trout of British Columbia, protection of the world's largest ant colony, opening an international insect quarantine facility and helping to save New Zealand's multi billion dollar forestry and agriculture industries from the Australian painted apple moth. Global Forest Science is also dedicated to children's ecological education - visit GFAwesome.
(www.gfawesome.org)

For more information, please contact:
Email: info@globalforestscience.org
Phone: 818.851.9682