The Tennessee-based International Paper Company, a longtime supporter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), became the first company from the private sector to join local water utilities, public agencies and land trusts in a coordinated effort to permanently protect and manage forests in the Savannah River watershed as part of the Savannah River Clean Water Fund (Fund). The first of its kind in Georgia and in South Carolina, the Fund convenes diverse stakeholders around the common goal of protecting forests for the many benefits they provide to local communities, economies, and wildlife. 

“These forests—especially those located near a river’s headwaters—reduce flooding, trap nutrients and sediment, support recreation, clean the air and water, and yield natural resources for the production of food, timber and other products,” says Lisa Lord, Savannah River Clean Water Fund Program Manager with The Longleaf Alliance.

In addition to building on an enduring partnership with TNC, International Paper also supports the Fund as a local water user; the company owns and operates two mills in the Lower Savannah River Basin in Port Wentworth and Savannah, Ga.  

“This project is important for us, as this watershed’s vast wetlands and forests contain the natural resources all of us depend on to filter clean water for all the water users in this community,” said Sophie Beckham, Chief Sustainability Officer, International Paper. “As one of the largest users of fiber, we are committed to leading forest stewardship efforts globally. Our entire business depends upon the sustainability of forests and the ecosystem that they support.” 

International Paper recently announced Vision 2030, its goals for building a better future for people and the planet. The goals include an increased focus on water stewardship, with plans to reduce operational water use as well as support watershed health in partnership with local water users and other stakeholders. As part of Vision 2030, International Paper will seek to apply the Savannah River model in other watersheds where they operate.

“We welcome International Paper as a partner to the Savannah River Clean Water Fund. Proactive protection of our water resources is important to us all. International Paper’s partnership will accelerate our efforts to protect water quality for current and future generations,” said Laura Walker, Environmental Administrator with the City of Savannah.  Joe Mantua, General Manager for Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority, mirrored the sentiment.

The mission of the Savannah River Clean Water Fund is to protect the water supply for communities and businesses that depend upon the lower Savannah River in Georgia and South Carolina. It comprises representatives from five public water utilities in Georgia and South Carolina as well as conservation organizations in both states. The Fund uses science-based evidence to make conservation investments and reach conservation goals on a regional watershed scale.

According to Nature Conservancy scientist, Dr. David Bishop, a clear correlation exists between land use and water quality, adding that, “Forest cover within the Savannah River watershed remains sufficient to assure raw water quality, but development pressures are building in parts of the watershed.” 

Dr. Bishop says that keeping 60 percent of the 2.8 million-acre watershed—or 1.67 million acres—in some form of natural land is the goal. So far, the Fund identified approximately 500,000 acres as permanently protected, leaving 1.17 million acres remaining. 

A U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration grant, awarded to the Georgia Forestry Commission, leverages International Paper’s support, making it possible to employ hydrological, environmental, and social data to collaboratively identify high-priority parcels for forest protection. This analysis is led by University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. International Paper’s support is also helping build a foundation to engage local communities, landowners, and industry in supporting the Fund’s long-term success.  

“International Paper’s support, and that of others, will go a long way in employing nature’s original water filter—our forests—to sustain local communities, wildlife and livelihoods,” says Dr. Peter Stangel, Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and Fund board member. “Their support for this proactive approach also saves time and resources that might otherwise be dedicated to costly water infrastructure upgrades down the road.”