Several of Ford's global facilities have been certified as wildlife habitat sites by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. The WHC certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and must be periodically renewed.
Ford facility wildlife habitats range in size from five to more than 100 acres and include ecosystems as diverse as wetlands, woodlands, prairies, meadows and forests. They provide habitat for dozens of native plant and wildlife species, and are developed and maintained by Ford employees, often in partnership with local civic and education groups. At many of the facilities, nature trails have been built, bird and bat houses erected, and wildflower gardens planted, in addition to the establishment of wildlife habitats. They have also developed community education programs to encourage broader understanding of the importance of corporate wildlife sanctuaries.
