CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, December 2, CITGO Petroleum Corporation (CITGO), in collaboration with the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department, worked to revitalize the Oso Bay Wetland Preserve, a 160-acre area of reclaimed agricultural and cattle land. This project follows a similar restoration effort led by CITGO along the Nueces Delta Preserve just one week ago and is the fifth in a yearlong series of volunteer efforts promoting environmental conservation and restoration.
CITGO employees, students and local volunteers spent the morning learning about the Preserve while planting trees, grasses, and other vegetation that native wildlife will soon call home. Hands-on work stations were also set up for students in attendance to learn about natural habitats and environmental conservation.
"Partnerships with local businesses like CITGO who not only have the resources to help make a difference, but are actually interested in participating in these efforts are so important to achieving our goals," said Michael Morris, director for Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation. "These volunteers have not only brought positive change to the Preserve, they have brought awareness to the steps we can take as a community to protect our natural resources. We truly appreciate the partnership and support."
Large areas of the preserve – once used for pastures, cattle herds, and plantations – have been cleared of natural vegetation over the past century. The CITGO-Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve volunteer effort will help to revive these areas and diversify their ecological communities.
"Restoring and conserving local ecosystems through the Caring for Our Coast program is a reflection of our core commitment to corporate social responsibility," said Nelson P. Martinez, CITGO President and CEO. "At CITGO, we are dedicated to working with local organizations and communities to promote long-term change through conservation and sustainability efforts."
Today's CITGO-Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve effort is one of many environmental conservation and restoration efforts within the CITGO Caring for Our Coast program, which commemorates the recovery of coastal communities nearly 10 years after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. The campaign launched in New Orleans this past August with a volunteer event focused on restoring wetlands at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, followed by a major effort to restore the dunes along Holly Beach, Louisiana, the removal of indigenous species at the Lemont Quarries in Illinois, and a recent restoration effort in the Nueces Delta Preserve.
To learn more about Caring for Our Coast and other volunteer opportunities, visit http://citgocaringforourcoast.com.
About Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation
Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation consistently strives to meet the social, physical and cultural needs of the community by providing the amenities, innovative programs and exemplary use of natural resources that enhance Corpus Christi as a place to live and visit. This is achieved through common goals and shared resources, both within the City organization and throughout the community. The City of Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide range of recreational activities for all age groups. Activities include swimming, tennis, golf, skateboarding, martial arts, sports, arts & crafts, and seminars on various topics. For more information, visit http://www.cctexas.com/government/parks-recreation/index.
About CITGO Petroleum Corporation
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit CITGO.com.
SOURCE CITGO