N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission News Releases

RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 23, 2007) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Resource Management Service, LLC, have agreed to continue the Bear Sanctuary Program in the Green Swamp.

The program, which will cover more than 27,000 acres, marks the extension of a similar agreement with the former landowner, International Paper.

Tony Doster, North Carolina region manager for Resource Management Service, said that his company is committed to forest stewardship, managing for wildlife habitat and other forest resources in addition to producing a sustainable flow of timber.

“RMS is a company founded, owned, and managed by professional foresters committed to sustainable forest management. We’re certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® standard which balances the growing and harvesting of timber with the protection of wildlife, water, and other important forest resources.” said Doster. “One of our most important objectives is to provide quality hunting opportunities and to create and manage habitat for the huge variety of wildlife that is at home on our lands. We’re very proud to work with the Wildlife Commission to continue the bear sanctuary agreement.”

The Green Swamp Bear Sanctuary plays a vital role in protecting a breeding nucleus of black bears in southeastern North Carolina. The agreement will provide safe harbors for North Carolina’s largest land mammal, while allowing opportunities to hunt bears outside the sanctuary boundaries.

Tommy Hughes, a supervising wildlife biologist for the Commission, said the importance of this refuge should not be underestimated.

“The Green Swamp Bear Sanctuary supports good quality habitat that is important for black bears and is critical in maintaining stable bear numbers in our southeastern counties,” said Hughes. “Based upon data, our southeastern bears are not as prolific as bears in our central and northeastern coastal plain, and protection from over harvest in the Green Swamp is needed. This sanctuary provides needed protection that is important in maintaining healthy bear numbers that will continue to support sustained sport hunting.”

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Federal Paperboard Corporation created the Green Swamp’s first Black Bear Sanctuary Program in 1971.

To learn more about black bears or the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Founded in 1950, RMS is an independent timberland investment management firm managing forest investments throughout the US South on behalf of pension funds, endowments, and foundations. With current assets under management of approximately $3.3 billion, RMS is one of the largest forestland investment managers in the world. RMS is based in Birmingham, Alabama, with field offices located across the South. To learn more, visit www.resourcemgt.com.