Mazda-Toyota Wants to Save Spring Pygmy Sunfish
Of course, with today's economy, it's no surprise that there was fierce competition for this facility. North Carolina especially has been pulling out all of the stops to get an automaker to set up shop in one of its towns. And with almost 20 states competing for this particular factory, Alabama was understandably thrilled when the announcement finally came out that Madza-Toyota was coming to Hunstville.
But amid all of the excitement ramping up for the thousands of new jobs that will be created, MTMUS (Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA) has set aside a whopping $6 million to preserve the aforementioned spring pygmy sunfish. Conservation efforts will be considerable, with plans in place to protect over 1,000 acres in the Beaverdam Spring and Creek Complex. Although $6 million may seem like a lot to protect a one-inch fish, many in the wildlife conservation movement are thrilled by the example that this sets on behalf of Mazda-Toyota—and for other auto manufacturers.
Indeed, many groups had a say and were involved in making sure that Mazda-Toyota did the right thing. The Center for Biological Diversity was one of them, as well as Tennessee Riverkeeper. It's noteworthy that this rare sunfish only exists in two places on the planet right now, and environmental groups wanted to go out of their way to ensure that these places were not being threatened by the new plant. The Mazda-Toyota team wanted to do the right thing as well, which is why prep work was halted as the team decided what to do in order to protect the pygmy sunfish.
Integrity
And with these new efforts in place, Mazda-Toyota is putting its money where its mouth is. The multi-tiered strategy is designed for success, putting the focus squarely on the sunfish. The funding is permanent and includes funds for restoring the tiny fish's habitat. After all, these sunfish need underwater vegetation in order to hatch their eggs. Because the process of conservation can be quite delicate, it's not a surprise to learn that the Mazda-Toyota team is championing multiple methods to achieve the desired result of keeping these fish alive and thriving. In addition to the habitat restoration project, there will also be genetic studies done to make discoveries on how the species can be protected in the future. If anything, this carmaker has proven that it plans on having a big stake in the future of its new factory's home.
Captive propagation and reintroduction are other methods that will be used to ensure that everything starts moving in the right direction. In the past, everyone has heard stories of the environmental impact created by big companies who don't care about what they're doing to the cities in which they've set up shop. On many occasions during this entire process, Mazda-Toyota has demonstrated good faith and made it clear that this facility is going to be different. With so many plans in place to protect this sunfish, it seems as if this carmaker was making sure that it has all of its bases covered before major construction on the plant had even started.
Accountability
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as a slew of other environmental groups, will be monitoring this process closely. If the carmaker deviates from any part of the promised plan, it will be held to task. In the age of social media, it is easier to hold brands accountable than ever before. The city of Hunstville announced its jubilation over all of the proposals, even going as far as to state that the pygmy sunfish may very well increase its population numbers in the near future. Describing the sunfish's habitat as "pristine", the press release went on to state that it believes there will be a positive generational impact as a result of these thrilling new proposals.
Perhaps one of the most exciting signs is that all of these government agencies, as well as the brand itself, are willing to work together in order to achieve what is necessary. Time and time again, we have seen what can happen when groups do not agree on projects like these. Due to the depth and breadth of what Mazda-Toyota has proposed, however, all parties are impressed and willing to move forward in good faith. For this little sunfish, it seems like the future has never been brighter.
