Individuals and organizations, through the use of energy, are responsible for carbon emissions (as CO2) –generally known as a “carbon footprint” which is responsible for a significant percentage of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and its effects on wildlife.
 

The Philadelphia Zoo is launching a carbon offset program on its website called “FOOTPRINTS.” This new Zoo initiative allows individuals or organizations to address global climate change by offsetting part or all of their own carbon footprints through an investment in three reforestation projects - Borneo’s Kinabatangan Forest Restoration, Fairmount Park’s Greenland Woods, and several planting areas in the Zoo. The Kinabatangan project is based in the village of Sukau, providing a financial benefit to the village as well as to wildlife. The Kinabatangan project and Greenland Woods both help mitigate climate change and offer the added benefit of providing wildlife habitat. Beneficiaries in Borneo will include orangutans among other species. Locally, in Fairmount Park, a significant number of migratory and resident birds and other local wildlife stand to gain. Zoo reforestation projects will eventually plant more than 2300 trees as part of the Zoo’s “FOOTPRINTS” initiative.

Online visitors can learn two ways they can help: by contributing money to offset their own carbon footprints via reforestation projects or by changing their behavior (e.g., reducing commuting costs, recycling, turning down thermostat). They can calculate their carbon footprint and decide how much of their footprint they wish to offset at $10 per ton. (US average is about 27 tons annually.) 100% of contributions minus the Zoo’s project-related costs, will go toward the projects to purchase and plant trees. Contributors will receive tax benefits and an e-certificate acknowledging their contribution, and will be recognized in an issue of the Zoo’s online conservation newsletter, Wildlife Matters.

Corporations can participate too, as “sustainability stakeholders” who are charter members of the program, contributing a minimum of $10,000 to help launch the Zoo’s long-term sustainability program. Corporations participating include such the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC).