HOUSTON, Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With a severe drought killing trees in Texas, Oklahoma and elsewhere, Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) is working to reverse the damaging trend by donating thousands of trees in areas where the company operates.
The Apache Foundation Tree Grant Program awarded 522,824 trees to 70 nonprofit groups and communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for the 2011-2012 planting season.
Since 2005, Apache has helped plant more than 2.3 million trees across 14 states through grants from the Apache Foundation to nonprofit organizations and communities.
"Trees will be in great demand in a year or two once the extent of the drought damage is known and communities will begin replacing them," said Castlen Kennedy, Apache's manager of Government Affairs and director of the Tree Grant Program.
Kennedy said there has been a drop in requests for trees this year because of the severe drought.
"When we notified the recipients of their awards, we asked for a recommitment from each one that they were able to care for the trees in light of the drought conditions," she said.
It is estimated each tree can remove 110 pounds of carbon dioxide per year for 50 years, or about 2.5 tonnes during the life of each tree. Apache has set a goal to plant a total of three million trees and is encouraging more communities to participate.
"I believe the tree program serves as another excellent example of Apache's commitment to our communities," Kennedy said.
About Apache
Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea, Australia and Argentina. Apache common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and quoted on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol APA. Apache posts announcements, updates and investor information, in addition to copies of all recent press releases, on its website www.apachecorp.com.
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SOURCE Apache Corporation