Integrating environmental excellence into corporate strategy and operations is becoming "business as usual" for many companies. Most have found that this depth of environmental management ensures compliance, helps to reduce costs, leads to increased profitability, and enhances an organization's environmental image. As part of this process, managing corporate lands for wildlife through programs such as the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Wildlife at Work or Waterways for Wildlife can serve as an integral component of a company's environmental plan by blending good science with good business.

These wildlife habitat management programs can help a company move towards an even more proactive environmental strategy through: 

• employee-led initiatives supporting integrated property and corporate facilities management;
• coordination with emerging community-based directives from regulatory agencies;
• coordination of technical assistance from WHC, other conservation organizations, and regulatory agencies;
• community involvement from neighboring landowners, local community groups, and individuals.

And in an era of increased awareness of sustainable development, these wildlife habitat enhancement projects help address:

• ecological issues surrounding the restoration and enhancement of local habitats and supporting regional biodiversity;
• economic issues associated with sustainable development, such as multiple land use, regional development, and stewardship of renewable resources; and
• social and community issues affecting the region, such as quality of life, cultural heritage and diversity, and neighbor relations.

Finally, habitat enhancement and protection not only improves the quality of the land base and supports biodiversity, but:

• results in increased productivity and employee satisfaction;
• has quantifiable benefits to the bottom line, including reduced operating and maintenance costs;
• can improve environmental performance, sometimes promoting increased flexibility in operations and permitting;
• helps build bridges of communication and trust between management and employees, the corporation and local communities, and the corporation and conservation interests.

Perhaps most importantly, wildlife habitat programs provide an opportunity to take a leadership role in an environmental project that will significantly impact the region and community of which you are a part. Habitat programs help to build community by bringing the diverse stakeholders of a particular region together to preserve and protect its natural values. 

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