Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale has given $500,000 to kickstart an initiative with The Nature Conservancy to develop conservation projects for rivers and streams in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri, the publicly traded meat processor announced Wednesday.
The money will help fund stream restoration, reforestation, erosion prevention, unpaved road improvements, watershed research and community engagement in conservation projects throughout the area, including the Kings, Elk and Buffalo Rivers, the company said in a news release.
"We are very appreciative that Tyson wants to work with The Nature Conservancy," said Scott Simon, state director for the Arkansas Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. "They have been supporting The Nature Conservancy and the conservation work of other organizations for decades. We are particularly excited they have developed this program to fund water quality improvement projects and are looking forward to working together with their employees on some of the most beloved rivers of northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri.”
Northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri are home to more than 14,000 Tyson Foods employees, eight processing plants, and more than 800 contract farmers. Tyson also owns seven pre-treatment wastewater facilities in the region, the release said.
"Our footprint in this area is significant and along with that comes an important responsibility to conserve our precious natural resources," said Mike Roetzel, Tyson's group vice president of operation services. "This is just one way we hope to protect the quality of life we experience in this beautiful part of the country."
