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MISSOURI’S LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED FOREST DONATED TO L-A-D FOUNDATION
DONATION ENSURES
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY MANAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE

ST. LOUIS (July 6, 2004) – Leo and Kay Drey announced today their donation of Pioneer Forest, the largest private land holding in Missouri, to the L-A-D Foundation. The donation includes more than 146,000 acres in six Missouri counties. Leo Drey, Missouri’s largest private landowner, established Pioneer Forest in 1951.

The donation is the largest private gift of its kind in Missouri history and will ensure that Pioneer Forest continues to be managed through environmentally sound and sustainable practices. “I have been privileged to have had such good people to work with over the years,” Drey said. “I am pleased that the Foundation will continue to manage the forest just as I have done.”

Through his efforts with Pioneer Forest, Drey challenged forest owners and managers to think in long-range terms about forests, their management, and the many public benefits forests provide. For many years, Pioneer Forest has been nationally recognized as a working forest using environmentally responsible forest management. Sustainable practices include conservative single-tree selection harvesting, which reaps a broad array of ecosystem benefits.

The L-A-D Foundation is honored to carry on Drey’s 50-year legacy. “This gift is of historic scale and importance,” said John Karel, president of L-A-D Foundation. “But the significance is not only its size. Over the past five decades, Leo Drey has shown what can be done to preserve forests in ways that benefit everyone. We want to continue to make his dream for this land a reality.”

The L-A-D Foundation is a private, charitable foundation currently managing nearly 3,400 acres, most of which are designated Missouri Natural Areas. The Foundation has worked with the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources for management of these lands.
The Forest Stewardship Council, the most stringent program recognizing sustainable management and guaranteeing “green” or environmentally friendly wood products for consumers, certified Pioneer Forest in 2003.

Missouri Senator Wayne Goode, board member and treasurer of the Foundation, stated, “Over 50 years ago Leo Drey began purchasing ‘over cut’ forest land, turned that land into a sustainable forestry operation and has proven that single-tree selection harvesting can be both profitable and environmentally sound. He has influenced forest management and conservation policies which are now utilized on private, state, and national forest lands.”

“Missourians benefit each day from the vision of Leo Drey – from the parks and natural areas he has purchased and leased to the state, as well as from the forest,” Karel said. “Now future generations of Missourians may continue to enjoy Pioneer Forest and benefit from Leo’s dedication and generosity.”

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