Land Trust Receives Green Gift to Fight Invasives

(Left to right) Door County Land Trust Executive Director Tom Clay, Russ and Deb Feirer, chairs of the Nature Study Subcommittee of the Chambers Island Nature Preserve Committee; Cellcom Business Sales Manager Rob Van Gemert; and Land Trust Land Stewardship Manager Amanda Pyke were on hand for the presentation of the Cellcom Green Gift Award to the Land Trust. Submitted.

Recycled cell phones are helping remove invasive species from a 600-acre nature preserve on Chambers Island. Door County Land Trust has been selected as a 2017 Cellcom Green Gift recipient. The nonprofit received a $3,350 Green Gift from Cellcom to remove phragmites and garlic mustard that are threatening the native habitats on the island.

“Lake Mackaysee, the 350-acre lake on the interior of the island, has had its shoreline degraded by phragmites for the past several years. Garlic mustard has a foothold on the interior of the island, which is a part of the nature preserve, as well as the roads and trails leading to these parcels,” said Terrie Cooper, director of land program for Door County Land Trust. “Although islanders have been fighting these invasive species aggressively for nearly a decade, these plants have not been completely eliminated.”

The Green Gift from Cellcom will assist in treatment of the invasive species. The Chambers Island Nature Preserve is currently the largest of Door County Land Trust’s nature preserves. Gaining control of invasive species in the preserve will strengthen the ecological integrity of the preserve, helping to guarantee that future generations will benefit from scientific research conducted on the island as well as environmental education. Chambers Island will also be able to fulfill its natural role as a strategically located Great Lakes stopover for migratory birds and increasingly rare habitat for native flora and fauna.

“Our service area is fortunate to be teeming with nonprofits that are creatively using their resources to help the environment through education and activism. Donating your phone allows us to contribute to their efforts through our Green Gifts program and ultimately work toward a greener tomorrow,” said Brighid Riordan, director of public affairs and customer experience initiatives at Cellcom.

The company’s recycling program has generated $306,975 for local charities in the past 13 years.