Disney Buys $7M in Reforestation Offsets, a Corporate Record

November 5, 2009

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Walt Disney Corp., by donating about $7 million to various conservation programs, aims to offset a portion of its emissions. Some are calling the move by Disney the biggest single corporate investment in forest carbon offsets to date.

The move is part of Disney’s effort to use “high quality offsets” to attain a net-zero emissions status, reports Reuters.

The offsets are directed at:

the Tayna and Kisimba-Ikobo Community Reserves in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where 3 million tons of CO2 will be mitigated over 20 years;
the Alta Mayo conservation project in Peru, which aims to protect 740,000 acres of forests and prevent 900,000 tons of CO2 over the five-year span of the agreement;
reforestation in the U.S. Lower Mississippi Delta, where more than 2,000 acres of former forestland will be replanted; and,
forest management efforts in North California, where new forestry management practices are being developed to preserve the Redwood forests in Mendocino County.

The two foreign offset projects, worth $4 million, are in conjunction with Conservation International.

The Mississippi project will receive $2 million, directed through the Nature Conservancy, while the California project, through the Conservation Fund, will get $1 million.

Peter Seligmann, chairman of Conservation International, in an AP article, said Disney’s donations represent “the largest single corporate contribution ever made to reduce (greenhouse) emissions from deforestation.”

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Reader Comments

This is good news and beneficial but I’d like to see Disney green itself.

I must admit that it was a few years ago, but when I was last at Disneyworld in Florida I did not see a single electric or alternatively fueled vehicle among Disney’s tremendous fleet of buses, trams, boats, and service vehicles. Nor did I see any evidence of solar, biomass, or other energy applications. And I do not recall anything standing out in terms of energy efficiency, water conservation, or other green building and grounds features.

Disney has great opportunities to lead in greening its own communities and facilities, which will provide direct economic and environmental benefits, help propel markets for green goods and services, and help inform and educate millions of visitors.

I’d be very pleased if someone from Disney could respond that my observations are out-of-date and tell us that the company is leading by doing.

Rod | November 5th, 2009

Companies, governments, and individuals MUST EXHAUST all avenues of reducing their ecological impact before turning to “offsets”.

Joe | November 11th, 2009

Good on Disney! We need more corporate sponsors to step up to the plate to help reduce GHG emissions with forestry projects! We have a limited number of forestry carbon projects in Canada available seeking sponsors. mgreig@carbonforestry.ca

Mike Greig | November 12th, 2009

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