Wal-Mart's "green" image-building exercise

Our friends from Bentonville have announced a grant to the tune of $1 million to assist in protecting 9,200 acres of Northern California forestland. According to this article, this grant funded by Wal-Mart is the largest privately-funded conversation easement in the state's history. Now -- this being behind them -- Wal-Mart needs to ensure this is a well-known fact to the rest of the world, and especially in the states. Why? Because Wal-Mart continues to need a PR boost if any outfit does.

The lands that Wal-Mart is making secure (so it seems) will be used for  publicly-accessible recreation, although sustainable timber harvests will continue to occur. To date, Wal-Mart's contributions to the Acres for America program have totaled $35 million over the last 10 years -- a fact that seems to either 1) be ignored by the mainstream or 2) not be promoted by those that need to be promoting. Why? Guesses anyone?

As Wal-Mart continues to take black eyes all over the place for its employee health care policies and "community destroying" store openings, it needs all the shining stars it can get -- and this qualifies. Some may argue that a few million here and a few million there out of the pocket of a billion-dollar profitable enterprise like Wal-Mart may just be a way to look good (if only anyone knew). That is a valid argument and justifiable. However, if Wal-Mart continues to increase its environmental lobby and turns more and more "green", they may have a chance to look like a more friendly corporate citizen instead of the has-been Arkansas discount retailer they once were -- but aren't now. Potential investors may be well-served by paying attention, as a good image can change perception into reality for some. But then again -- to some -- perception is reality.