It is a great pleasure to announce the combined efforts of Eco-Adventure Foundation and Team Santa Fe are adding up to a positive impact on the environment. The mission of this unprecedented alliance is betterment of local areas where adventure races are being staged. With the assistance of Virginia’s Department of Conservation & Recreation, Claytor Lake State Park, and Eco-Adventure Foundation, a local tree-replanting project was held as part of Virginia’s annual Operation Spruce UP.

Three beetles indigenous to Virginia are causing extensive mortality of long needle pines in the Claytor Lake State Park region. The long needle pines, not indigenous to the area, were planted too densely in the 1940’s causing overcrowding today. Two sections of the campground had to be clear-cut because beetles infested and killed the pine trees. On April 8th, an unseasonably hot spring day, members of Team Santa Fe assisted the staff of Claytor Lake State Park in a full day of replanting work. The two clear-cut areas were forested with over 900 saplings consisting of 2 indigenous short needle pines and 3 indigenous hard woods. Unfortunately, the beetles will continue to devastate the remaining densely planted pines. There are many more days of replanting work ahead to forest the region with trees that are not affected by the beetles.

Eco-Adventure Foundation thanks all of the individuals and groups involved in this special effort. We would like to individually recognize Paul Caruso of Claytor Lake State Park, Jan Bear of Team Santa Fe Adventure Racing (www.teamsantafe.org), and Don Mann of Odyssey Adventure Racing (www.oarevents.com). These individuals and groups have made Eco-Adventure Foundation’s first environmental project a great success. Eco-Adventure Foundation Director Don Moden says, “Without the assistance of these local groups it would be very difficult to travel vast distances and make such a positive environmental impact within a community”.

In the coming weeks, Eco-Adventure Foundation will be announcing their next exciting environmental project. Eco-Adventure Foundation and Team Santa Fe will join forces again and for the first time collaborate with Four Winds Adventure Racing (www.4windsadventure.com) looking to make a significant environmental difference in the beautiful Tarhgee National Forest of Idaho.

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