Arvato, a global logistics and supply chain management provider, is a new partner und supporter of the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a 16,000 acre forest and nature preserve in Clermont, Kentucky. Inspired by Arvato’s installation of a 1,200-square-foot native garden in 2023, the partnership focuses on supporting the Big Prairie at Bernheim. The Big Prairie is a 36-acre native meadow. Since 1996, it has welcomed 300,000 annual visitors to Bernheim and served as habitat for wildlife, supporting pollinators and other insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles.

“We are proud to partner with our neighbor, Bernheim Forest, on the continued preservation of the Big Prairie“, states Andreas Podwojewski, Managing Director of Arvato in the USA, where the company operates a total of nine locations, including five distribution centers within the greater Louisville area. „This partnership highlights Arvato’s dedication to environmental sustainability. We believe in the power of community collaboration.”

“One of Arvato's values is 'We Care,' and this partnership highlights how we are putting this value into action. Through this partnership with Bernheim Forest, we are not only supporting natural habitat and critical ecosystems, but also supporting an incredible community resource where our employees can explore and enjoy nature”, adds Darcy Everett, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Arvato in the US.

Prairie habitats play a crucial role in supporting unique plants and insects that depend on native grasslands for survival. As grasslands across the country are increasingly lost to development, invasive species, and forest encroachment, the preservation of prairies becomes increasingly important. One species that relies on the Big Prairie is the monarch butterfly. A 2023-24 study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that monarch populations are declining at an alarming rate. With a diverse array of milkweed species and essential nectar plants, the Big Prairie provides a vital habitat for monarch butterflies throughout their life cycle.

“As a global logistics and supply chain service provider, Arvato is eager to maximize the positive impact of its business activities on employees, society and the environment. Arvato is therefore highly committed to a sustainable economy and an intact environment,” states Andreas Podwojewski.

“With help from supporters, like Arvato, we can continue to improve and maintain this beautiful landscape highlighting native wildflowers where so many pollinator species and animals thrive,” says Dr. Mark K. Wourms, President and CEO at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum."