For more than a decade, ConocoPhillips and the Foundation have worked hand-in-hand to conserve birds and other wildlife, while educating children and adults about the natural world. ConocoPhillips has donated more than $1 million in challenge funds for projects supported by Foundation grants. Some recent projects supported improvements at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and the restoration of habitat for the endangered whooping crane in the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.
ConocoPhillips also continued its long-time support of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge with the addition of a whooping crane display to the refuge’s visitor center. The Aransas Refuge is the winter home of the whooping crane, as well as numerous other protected species. ConocoPhillips has been conducting exploration and production operations on the refuge for more than 60 years, and the company’s mineral rights pre-date the establishment of the refuge.
The company has partnered with the refuge to ensure maximum protection for wildlife and its habitat. During the years ConocoPhillips has operated on the Refuge, the whooping crane flock wintering there has grown from less than 20 birds to almost 200 – each making the annual 2,500-mile migration to and from Canada.