LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., December 16, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, has helped plant more than 78,000 trees in 2011 through the Canon Forest Program. Since joining forces in 2009, Canon U.S.A. has planted 112,330 trees to date throughout forests in desperate need of replanting. The trees planted this year include 48,071 trees in South Carolina's Manchester State Forest and 30,592 trees in Wisconsin's Bayfield County Forest.
The longleaf pine trees planted in Manchester State Forest are part of a critical replanting effort to restore the species to a larger portion of its former natural range. In the Southeast, longleaf pine ecosystems provide many benefits including critical habitat to several threatened and endangered species such as the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. These pine trees are also more fire resistant, important in an area that can be prone to fires throughout spring and summer months.
For Wisconsin's Bayfield County Forest, planting efforts took place in spring 2011 to enhance tree species biodiversity across several different forest areas. Five different species of trees, white pine, red pine, jack pine, white spruce and tamarack, are creating connectivity with adjacent forest areas, improving the health of the ecosystems, and re-establishing native forests lost over the last 100 years to insects, disease and clear-cutting. As a result, new habitats have been created for bird species such as the Sharp Tailed Grouse and the federally endangered Kirtland's Warbler. Additionally, this project is working to restore the boreal forest along the south shore of Lake Superior.
"Environmental protection and restoration has always been a top priority for Canon," said Bunji Yano, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A. "Our reforestation efforts with the Arbor Day Foundation have been a great success, and we look forward to preserving and replenishing more forests for future generations to enjoy."
"Thanks to Canon U.S.A.'s continued support, we will be able to plant much-needed trees in two areas of the country," said Brian Schenk, corporate partnerships manager with the Arbor Day Foundation. "These trees will provide cleaner air and water, habitat for wildlife and beauty for everyone to enjoy for years to come. By planting trees, Canon U.S.A. is demonstrating their commitment to helping the environment for this and future generations."
Through the Canon Forest Program, Canon makes a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant a tree in our nation's forests for every qualified imageRUNNER ADVANCE model sold throughout the year. Introduced in 2009, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE Series incorporates an array of environmentally conscious features such as bio-based plastic components and lead-free parts, which help to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions over the entire product lifecycle.