Through the Energy for

Wildlife program, the NWTF staff will work directly with AGL Resources

to integrate wildlife management activities, especially for wild turkey

habitat, into the company's land oversight programs. Through its

subsidiary, Atlanta Gas Light Company, AGL Resources has approximately

1,500 miles of natural gas pipeline in Georgia.

"This partnership

with the NTWF is part of our mandate to be a good steward of the environment,"

said Lindsay Thomas, senior vice president of governmental affairs and

an avid outdoorsman. "This allows us to encourage the growth of a

fascinating native American bird, the wild turkey. And by encouraging

turkey habitat, we will be providing habitat and food source for species

of both game and non-game wildlife such as our native song birds."

In the early 1930s,

wild turkeys were on the verge of extinction, but thanks to wildlife agencies

and conservation programs such as the NWTF's Energy for Wildlife,

the birds have made a dramatic comeback. The NWTF estimates that the population

has grown from only about 30,000 turkeys 70 years ago to more than 6 million

today.

According to the NWTF,

a varied habitat of both open and covered area is essential for wild turkey

survival. Wild turkeys prefer open areas for feeding and mating, a requirement

met by land along pipelines and power lines. The wily birds use forested

areas nearby as cover from predators and as roosts at night.

The NWTF created Energy

for Wildlife in response to the utility industry's need for assistance

in managing the millions of miles of rights-of-way and other land that

could potentially provide ideal habitat for a number of wildlife species.

Many energy companies have existing vegetation management plans for their

properties, but these plans often lack specific elements that benefit

wildlife. When participating companies add a wildlife component to their

land management plans, they receive a "seal of approval" from

the NWTF.

"The partnership

with AGL Resources is a stepping stone for partnerships with other natural

gas companies," said Jay Jordan, NWTF's Energy for Wildlife

coordinator. "This shows the commitment that AGL Resources has made

to benefit wildlife, while providing safe, reliable and affordable energy

to its customers."

According to Jordan,

managing open land along pipelines and power lines provides habitat for

many plant and wildlife species in addition to wild turkeys. Several species

that are currently at risk due to loss of open habitat also benefit from

Energy for Wildlife.

AGL Resources supports

another wildlife-enhancement program in Georgia, Project WINGS, which

works with individual landowners to encourage wildlife habitat.

Atlanta Gas Light Company,

a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources Inc., provides delivery service

to more than 1.5 million customers in Georgia. In operation since 1856,

the company is one of the oldest corporations in the state. For more information,

visit www.atlantagaslight.com.

AGL Resources Inc. is

an Atlanta-based energy services holding company. Its utility subsidiaries

� Atlanta Gas Light Company, Virginia Natural Gas and Chattanooga Gas

Company � serve approximately 1.8 million customers in three states. Houston-based

subsidiary Sequent Energy Management provides natural gas asset management

and producer services. As a member of the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources

markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural

Gas brand. AGL Networks, the company's telecommunications subsidiary,

owns and operates a fiber optic network in Atlanta. For more information,

visit www.aglresources.com.

The National Wild Turkey

Federation is a half-million-member, grassroots, nonprofit organization

with members in 50 states, Canada and 11 other foreign countries. It supports

scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands

as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, please call

803-637-3106 or visit www.nwtf.org. Questions may be e-mailed to [email protected].

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