COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 10, 2000 -- American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) and several other utilities have been recognized by Theodore Roosevelt IV and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for planting trees on refuges in the lower Mississippi River region.

UtiliTree Carbon Co., a consortium comprised of AEP and 40 other utilities, was recognized for its sponsorship of more than 2,400 acres of reforestation on marginal farmland on four national wildlife refuges in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem as part of its Global Climate Challenge Program.

The utilities’ efforts will help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere through carbon sequestration, the conversion of carbon dioxide gas into plant material. The projects will also significantly improve biodiversity on the refuges by reestablishing habitat for the Louisiana black bear, peregrine falcon, migratory neotropical bird and waterfowl.

Roosevelt, the great-grandson of the nation’s 26th president, visited Vicksburg, Miss., last month to announce the largest private reforestation effort in the country. In addition to his work as an investment banker, Roosevelt is active in several conservation efforts, including the League of Conservation Voters and the Wilderness Society.

Roosevelt announced the awards Dec. 13 at the historic Old Courthouse in Vicksburg. While there, Roosevelt also captured and collared a threatened Louisiana black bear at Tensas National Wildlife Refuge and retraced several of his great-grandfather’s famous bear hunts that resulted in the creation of the toy teddy bear.

“The reforestation project is one of the many ways AEP will continue to demonstrate its respect for the environment as well as its commitment to protect and enhance the environment,” said Gary Kaster, AEP’s forestry and recreation programs supervisor and chief executive officer of UtiliTree Carbon Co.

UtiliTree Carbon Co. was established in 1995 by 41 utilities to finance projects that seek to control carbon dioxide through domestic and international forestry projects, such as tree planting. The nonprofit company has committed over $2.5 million to finance the projects.

AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States´ largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.