HOUSTON, Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Corporation (NYSE, Nasdaq: APA) announced today it has donated more than 100,000 trees to 30 Texas nonprofit groups for the 2013-2014 planting season.

Among the Texas organizations receiving trees was the city of Houston's Parks and Recreation Urban Forestry Division. The city received 10,000 trees from the Apache Foundation Tree Grant Program to restore park arbor life that was destroyed in a recent drought.

"The totality of Apache's gift will make a difference to the entire region," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. "The trees will be a living monument to the foundation's generosity and concern for the community."

"Tree planting success stories like these and so many others from our grant recipients are testament to the foundation's program efforts to preserve our natural environment," said Wendy Craven, who oversees the Tree Grant Program as Apache's manager of Corporate Outreach. "Apache is proud to partner with the city of Houston and Texas organizations to donate tree grants and educate residents on the benefits of planting trees to improve the quality of life in our communities."

Since 2005, the foundation has awarded nearly 3.7 million trees to nonprofit organizations in 16 U.S. states to help improve wildlife habitats, restore storm damage, and enhance cities and neighborhoods in areas where the company operates. The trees go to nonprofit organizations including cities, counties, schools, parks, universities, youth associations, wildlife refuges and community groups.

In an ongoing effort to keep Texas green, the foundation pledged $60,000 to replace pine trees in Bastrop County where more than 32,000 acres were destroyed by wildfires in September 2011. The donation helped pay for 550,000 loblolly pine seedlings used to replant 400 acres in Bastrop State Park and 450 acres of private property.

With tree grants from Apache, Girl Scout Sarah Young was able to plant trees in her Central Texas town of Pflugerville northeast of Austin last year. Young distributed 550 trees through her Girl Scout project called Neighborwoods, a street tree planting program to keep the Austin area cool and shady. "Without the support of the Apache Foundation and the tree grant, I could not have completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project," Young said.

Click here to see how Apache supports Texas-area urban forestry.

Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Australia and Argentina. Apache posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and copies of all press releases on its website, www.apachecorp.com.

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SOURCE Apache Corporation