ALBANY, N.Y., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of a plan to create the first Adirondack wilderness trail and park designed for people with disabilities, International Paper (NYSE: IP) today announced a gift to the state of New York that will forever protect the wilderness character on thousands of acres of forestland. Gov. George Pataki accepted International Paper's donation of a 15,800-acre conservation easement, valued at $2.6 million, in a ceremony today at the State Museum in Albany. The easement donation establishes "International Paper John Dillon Park" as a tribute to the company's recently retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Dillon. It marks the beginning of a campaign to raise $2 million for the design and construction of facilities within the park that will provide an outdoor experience specifically for people with disabilities.

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Located in the central Adirondack Mountains near the town of Long Lake, the easement tract previously known as the "Sperry/Whitney Tract," features four beautiful lakes. Facilities for people with disabilities will be constructed on approximately 150 acres, along the shores of Grampus Lake, featuring accessible fishing ramps, nature trails, canoe and kayak docking facilities, sanitary facilities, wells and Adirondack lean-tos for sleeping shelter -- blended into the natural environment. These facilities will enable visitors to share the mountain terrain with a variety of animal and bird species including nesting bald eagles, osprey and loons. The park will also create an opportunity for a snowmobile trail running from Long Lake north toward Tupper Lake.

Demonstrating the compatibility of accessible recreational opportunities, working forests and open space protection has been a vision of John Dillon. A child of the Adirondacks, Dillon was born and raised in Schroon Lake and educated at Paul Smith's College. He began his early career with International Paper in a sales office within the Adirondack Park. From these roots, he fostered a life-long love of the Adirondacks and all it has to offer -- vast recreational reserves, an unparalleled wilderness experience and economic opportunity.

"Creation of this park reflects the personal, environmental and economic values that John holds dear," said International Paper Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Faraci. "It will bring a recreational opportunity for people with disabilities together with the economic benefits of sustainably managed forests and open space protection. It would not have been possible without John's vision and the cooperation of New York State and our many partners including Paul Smith's College and the Town of Long Lake, N.Y. Through private industry, government and non-profit agencies coming together to pursue this common vision, we can open new vistas of opportunity in the Adirondacks."

The International Paper Company Foundation provided a $100,000 seed grant to Paul Smith's College to complete the landscape plan and to initiate fundraising for the construction of accessible structures in the park. A phase-one campaign goal of $2 million has been set to complete the construction and establish an endowment that will fund management of the park. Approximately $1.5 million will be used to construct the adaptive equipment, roads and facilities that will make John Dillon Park the only park in the Adirondack Mountains that is specifically designed to provide an adaptive wilderness recreational opportunity. Construction on the park is planned to begin in spring 2004, with partial opening anticipated by the fall.

Approximately $500,000 will be dedicated to an endowment supporting a curriculum at Paul Smith's College that will give students a unique hands-on learning experience in managing outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. Paul Smith's College will incorporate opportunities for research and education at the site into its curriculum, and students will serve as resident rangers. They will have an opportunity to gain skills and experience in assisting people with disabilities while learning about the outdoors through the college's forestry education program.

"This conservation easement and park development are an incredible way for IP to honor John's stewardship of the company and its land in the Adirondacks," said Jane Bickford, vice president of development for Paul Smith's College. "John Dillon Park will allow generations to access the beauty and wonder of the Adirondacks, and Paul Smith's College is delighted to play a part in establishing the park and incorporating its special offerings into our program of study. It will truly offer Paul Smith's students a one-of-a-kind, hands on learning experience that is unparalled in the United States."

Tax-deductible donations to the park fund can be sent to Paul Smith's College - Dillon Park Fund, c/o Paul Smith's College, P.O. Box 265, Paul Smith's, N.Y. 12970.

International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com) is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging, and forest products. As one of the largest private forest landowners in the world, the company manages its forests under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (R) program, a system that ensures the continual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, air and water quality. Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in over 40 countries and sells its products in more than 120 nations.

SOURCE International Paper
04/05/2004

CONTACT: Bob Stegemann of International Paper, +1-518-465-5600; Jennifer Boardman, +1-203-541-8407, for International Paper

Web site: http://www.internationalpaper.com
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