Enhancing Biodiversity at 3M Locations
The locations of some of 3M's facilities share the same land with rare species of wildlife. Where this occurs, and on other 3M properties that support wildlife, the company works to enhance and protect the area’s natural habitat. For example, 3M's Austin, Texas facility is located within critical habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. The 3M Austin facility has worked hard to not only limit the impact of its operations on the warbler, but to enhance the facility's property to create a habitat that can be used by the warbler as well as a number of other species found near the facility.
3M Austin worked with The Wildlife Habitat Council, a nonprofit organization that helps corporations, conservation organizations and individuals interested in protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat. The group makes recommendations in the form of a detailed wildlife plan for the property that will allow wildlife to prosper. After programs are put in place, the Wildlife Habitat Council operates a Corporate Habitat Certification/International Accreditation Program. This program recognizes exceptional habitat management and environmental education programs at corporate sites.
Currently, five 3M facilities have received certification from the habitat council including 3M's Decatur, Alabama; Belle Mead, New Jersey; and Greenville, South Carolina facilities and Corporate Centers in St. Paul, Minnesota and Austin, Texas. Two additional sites are in the process of seeking certification. In 2004, 3M's Decatur, Alabama facility was awarded the Wildlife Habitat Council's Rookie of the Year Award from the WHC to honor "an outstanding newly certified wildlife habitat program."
3M Austin Center's Wildlife Habitat Program
The 3M Austin Center is an administrative and research facility in the city
of Austin, Texas. 3M Austin Center contains a unique mix of natural areas,
landscape gardens and recreational areas for employee use. 3M Austin's goals
for the site are habitat enhancement, employee and community involvement and
environmental education.
A number of actions have been adopted by 3M Austin to enhance its site, including establishment of no-mow zones around the property, placement of decals on large plate-glass windows to deter bird collisions, creation of a 58-acre wildflower meadow with 128 different wildflower species and construction of a nature trail. Most recently, 3M Austin developed a water conservation program, a monitoring and control program to deal with uncontrolled animal populations and a hummingbird garden.
3M's Cottage Grove, MN Facility Partners with Friends of the Mississippi River to Preserve and Restore Wildlife Habitat
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3M's Cottage Grove, MN facility is located on the banks of the Mississippi River. Since 2003, the facility has partnered with Friends of the Mississippi River to preserve and restore natural habitat on the facility's site. The facility has focused its efforts on preserving 30 acres of oak savanna and restoring an additional 170 acres surrounding the savanna.
Volunteers from both 3M Cottage Grove and the Friends of the Mississippi River worked together to remove buckthorn and other invasive plants, collect seeds, plant native plants, and perform a planned, controlled burn. Next year, the facility plans to continue its restoration work and conduct a bird survey. |
