Trends
in Environmental Franchising
Go
Wild!
At
Wild Birds Unlimited,
the largest retail franchise
system to accommodate backyard
birdfeeding and nature-attracting
hobbyists, franchisees are as
concerned about the great outdoors
as they are about the birds
and animals that live there.
Wild
Birds Unlimited underscores
its mission to bring people
and nature together by promoting
its Pathways to Nature conservatory
fund.
Pathways
to Nature supports education,
conservation and wildlife-viewing
projects at wildlife refuges,
parks, sanctuaries and nature
conservancies throughout North
America. The fund was established
in 1999 and has donated nearly
$600,000 to 22 environmentally
friendly projects. Pathways
to Nature has helped organizations
like the Virginia Living Museum,
Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Santa
Ana National Wildlife Refuge
and Pelican Island National
Wildlife Refuge fund projects
like the creation and maintenance
of nature center exhibits, trails,
boardwalks and wildlife-viewing
platforms.
By
working in concert with the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
Wild Birds Unlimited
is able to increase the assistance
it provides to fund recipients.
The foundation accesses federal
funds, and its own challenge
grant program, in order to match
the monies donated by Pathways
to Nature. All Wild Birds
Unlimited franchises donate
a portion of their proceeds
to the Pathways to Nature fund.
Wild
Birds Unlimited views itself
as more than a specialty retail
franchise network. The company
provides an array of educational
resources and articles about
nature, birdfeeding, wildlife
watching and conservationism
and strives to be a community
resource in all of its franchise
locations. Individual franchises,
in fact, carry birdseed blends
and specially developed products
that are suitable to the wildlife
indigenous to that particular
franchise's local area.
At
the corporate level, the company
is dedicated to building strategic
sponsorship alliances that will
educate the public about the
importance of preserving the
environment and natural wildlife
habitats. From birdwatching,
birdfeeding and nature appreciation,
to scientific, environmental
and conservation research, many
of the programs sponsored by
Wild Birds Unlimited
allow people to actively participate
in the conservation efforts.
One of these programs is the
National Audubon Society's Great
Backyard Bird Count which invites
ordinary folks and community
groups to track the birds they
see at their birdfeeders, in
their backyards and in natural
areas each February. This helps
define bird ranges, populations
and migration pathways throughout
North America. Another program
for which Wild Birds Unlimited
is a major sponsor is Bird Studies
Canada, a non-profit bird conservation
organization that researches
migratory bird habits throughout
Canada.
Many
of Wild Birds Unlimited's
conservation and educational
endeavors strive to get people
participating in the preservation
of our environments and the
protection of its wildlife inhabitants.
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