GARYVILLE – Marathon Ashland Petroleum refinery in Garyville and DuPont Company in LaPlace were recently honored for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation by the Wildlife Habitat Council.

The Marathon refinery includes 2,951 acres, with 600 acres of refinery operations but 1,360 acres of forested wetlands. These wetlands include five purple martin houses, 10 wood duck boxes, hummingbird and songbird feeders and birdbaths and a six-acre wildflower meadow with 20 different species of wildflowers.

Marathon employees removed and transplanted 20 shade trees as well from the refinery entrance road to East St. John Elementary School in 2001 through their Adopt-a-School program and 75 shade tree seedlings were purchased and planted at East St. John and Garyville Magnet elementary schools. In March, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation recognized Marathon as the 2001 Corporate Conservationist of the Year.

At DuPont, personnel have worked to protect 900 acres of their 1,130-acre site, which includes bottomland hardwood forest, woodlands and butterfly gardens. Employees have documented 218 bird species, 20 butterfly species, 19 mammal species, 42 amphibian and reptile species, and 16 fish species.

and more than 75 tree and shrub species.

Purple martins have flourished from 60 in 1992 to 340 in 2001.

The preservation team at DuPont works to enhance habitat for wood duck, butterflies, hummingbirds, eastern bluebirds and eastern screech-owls, as well as other wildlife including mink, swamp rabbit, raccoon and beaver.

WHC president Bill Howard commented: “Congratulations to Marathon Ashland Petroleum and DuPont Company for their commendable efforts towards the restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat. We will continue to focus on educating our youth, for they are the future conservators of our natural resources. Through knowledge and passion, we can promote a greater understanding of the natural world.”

More than two million acres in 48 states and Puerto Rico, and 15 foreign countries, are involved in WHC-assisted projects.