Titan Florida, a subsidiary of Titan
America, presented a case study at
last month's Wildlife Habitat Coun‐
cil's Annual Symposium celebrating
corporate conservation.
Muhammad Khan, environmental
manager at Titan Florida's Pennsuco
plant, presented, "Titan Florida's
Ecological Restoration," to attendees
at the Hilton Baltimore. The case
study discussed the plant's three‐
year project to combat an invasive
plant species.
In the 1940s, the Corps of Engineers
planted what they believed were harm‐
less Melaleuca trees in and around the
campus of the present‐day Pennsuco
plant. In 1999, the tree was determined
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
to be an invasive species. The Pennsuco
plant had no choice but to salvage the
current and soon‐to‐be native trees by
eradicating the Melaleuca trees.
In 2010 a team of Titan environmental
employees and a local biologist began
the project and within three years there
was less than 1 percent Melaleuca trees
coverage. Native trees like Gumbo
Limbo, Live Oak and Red Maple were
planted and are now thriving on the
Pennsuco campus. "It was a hard fight
to reverse the spread of the invasive
species but the results are most gratify‐
ing," said Khan, who led the effort.
Fifty acres of land has been mitigated
for this project, including an Upland
Tree Island that includes native trees
spread over 3,000 sq. ft. The campus
now accommodates various birds in‐
cluding Cattle Egret, Bald Eagle, Wood
Stork, White Ibis and Flamingo. There
is also a family of otters enjoying the
nearby waterways as well.
This isn't the first time the Pennsuco
complex was highlighted by the Wildlife
Habitat Council. The complex received
international recognition for its contri‐
butions to conservation education at
last year's symposium. Pennsuco re‐
ceived the Corporate Lands for Learn‐
ing certification. The WHC's Corporate
Wildlife Habitat Certification/Interna‐
tional Accreditation Program recog‐
nizes commendable wildlife habitat
management and environmental edu‐
cation programs at individual sites.
ROCK products • DECEMBER 2014 www.rockproducts.com 66
Titan America Plant Featured at Wildlife
Habitat Council Symposium