Green Bay Packaging sustains Trees for Tomorrow support
Every week, Gannett Wisconsin Media talks to business leaders in its Monday conversation feature. Today, Lisa Bauer-Lotto, director of environmental and sustainability programs for Green Bay Packaging Inc., talks about her company’s long participation in the Trees for Tomorrow program.
What is Trees for Tomorrow?
Trees for Tomorrow (TFT) was founded as an independent, nonprofit organization in 1944 by a group of Wisconsin paper and electric utility companies for the purpose of reforesting northern Wisconsin, as well as educating landowners and citizens about the need for proper land management.
In the 1940s and 1950s, TFT gave away tree seedlings, loaned planting machines and hired foresters to develop management plans for landowners. The organization also established an education facility in Eagle River and used the recovering northern forest environment to teach K-12 school students, their teachers and the public about the need for proper forestry practices.
In the 1960s, with reforestation substantially completed, TFT turned all its energy to education. Today, “Trees” is one of the Midwest’s leading natural-resource specialty schools providing hands-on inquiry-based field workshops known for their effectiveness in teaching natural-resource and environmental-sustainability concepts, which promote sound management to students, teachers and the general public.
It is one of Wisconsin’s only accredited natural resources specialty schools, hosting multi-day workshops for more than 10,000 students and teachers annually.
When and why did Green Bay Packaging get involved?
Green Bay Packaging began participating in 1964 when founder George F. Kress joined the school’s board of directors. Wisconsin once was one of the leading lumber-producing states and companies wanted to increase public awareness and education on the need for sound natural resources management. A healthy “wood basket” promoted the lumber-product industry and recreational-forest resources.
What has been the company’s participation in the program?
Fifty years later, Green Bay Packaging maintains corporate sponsorship and directly participates with myself serving on the board of directors’ executive committee. Green Bay Packaging supports fundraising efforts and events to achieve goals of the Trees for Tomorrow programs.
Other paper companies — Georgia-Pacific, Packaging Corporation of America, BPM Inc., NewPage Corp., Appleton Coated, Futurewood Corp., Plum Creek Timber Co., AstenJohnson Inc., Midwest Forest Products, Domtar Paper Co., Procter & Gamble and Expera Specialty Papers — support Trees for Tomorrow and the stewardship of natural resources for future generations.
In addition, Wisconsin Public Service, WE Energies, Dairyland Power Cooperative, American Transmission Co. and the Great Lakes Time Professionals Association support Trees For Tomorrow.
How does involvement in Trees for Tomorrow benefit Green Bay Packaging?
Participation with Trees for Tomorrow benefits Green Bay Packaging with increased public awareness of their commitment to youth programs and natural-resource education. Middle school and high school students from throughout Wisconsin, northern Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Minnesota participate in hands-on, multiday natural resource environmental science opportunities in the Northwoods.
Educating future generations on forestry sustainability through environmental science themes provides a natural-resource education and awareness of the paper industry's sustainable tree farming that benefits community and state.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
An article in The Rotarian, “Trees for Tomorrow,” stated that between 1944 and 1959 ... (in the) first 15 years “since Trees for Tomorrow started, tree planting by private landowners in Wisconsin has increased 330 percent.”
— Richard Ryman writes for Press-Gazette Media, Green Bay.
Lisa Bauer-Lotto
•Title: Director, environmental and sustainability programs
•Business: Green Bay Packaging
•Website: www.gbp.com