Enviva pledges $5M to forest conservation

by Erin Carson – The Daily Herald

Officials with Enviva wood pellet company announced this morning the company is putting $5 million toward a 10-year forest conservation program to protect sensitive habitats in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

Enviva, which has operations in Northampton County, said the conservation fund will work with nonprofit organizations to protect forests in the North Carolina-Virginia coastal plain and be administered by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. The company has three wood pellet production operations in the area and a deep-water marine terminal.

A spokesman for Enviva said the company wanted to create the fund because it is committed to protecting the region’s forests.

“We are deeply committed to keeping America’s working forests healthy and growing, and protecting our forests for our families and future generations,” said John Keppler, chairman and CEO of Enviva, in a statement. “That’s what the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund is all about.”

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