The global denim brand will contribute $100,000 to DU's wildlife conservation efforts.
Last week, Ducks Unlimited announced Wrangler, the iconic denim brand, will donate $100,000 over the next five years to conservation and land acquisition. The generous donation will specifically benefit North Carolina, where the headquarter offices for Wrangler and its parent company Kontoor Brands, Inc., are located.
The partnership will support the Alcoa Land Project, which has actually bought land to protect Yakin-Pee Dee River, striving to improve wildlife habitat, water quality and public recreational opportunities.
"Wrangler has always had a deep connection to the land, which is why it is important for us to expand our collaboration with Ducks Unlimited," said Tom Waldron, Vice President and Global Brand President of Wrangler. "We're proud to help permanently protect the land and waters associated with the Alcoa Land Project and to provide habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for the people of North Carolina."
The Alcoa Land Project will protect more that 4,700 acres and about 76 miles of protected Yakin-Pee Dee River shoreline with the help of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Three Rivers Land Trust.
The Yakin-Pee Dee River provides water for most of central Carolina, and habitat to a wide variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, Acadian flycatchers, wood thrush, American redstart and wild turkeys.
As part of the initiative, the Project will preserve the area's rolling terrain and hardwood foliage, while also providing clean drinking water and public access.
"We are proud to continue working with Wrangler to conserve, restore and manage critical lands," said DU's Acting Chief Conservation Officer Craig LeSchack. "Working together on the preservation and dedication of the Alcoa Land Project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect habitat and preserve public access on an enormous scale."
The initial preservation phase already has support from a number of different partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program, N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF), N.C. Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Nancy Standback, Fred and Alice Stanback, Eddie Smith Jr. and The Cannon Foundation.
"With a sincere interest in respecting the environment in which we live and acting on a desire to explore new ways to care for the land that feeds and clothes us, Wrangler has chosen to support DU," said DU's Director of Development Will Johnson. "We commend and appreciate the commitment to conservation that Wrangler has offered and as an organization, we look forward to a lengthy relationship benefiting North America's wetlands."
