Northwest Airlines has launched its EarthCares program with The Nature Conservancy as its founding partner. Northwest is making a $1 million gift on behalf of its employees and customers to The Nature Conservancy, in equal payments, over the next three years. Northwest says it has reduced its carbon emissions by 25 percent since the year 2000 through its fleet modernization program — new aircraft are about 35 percent more efficient than the aircraft they are replacing.

The Nature Conservancy partnership will support the Mississippi River Valley conservation program which will protect land in the Mississippi River Valley from future development as well as three other projects near Northwest’s domestic hubs, and a program in China.

Northwest customers will have the opportunity to support these projects with a donation of frequent flyer miles or a cash contribution at www.nwa.com that is related to offsetting the estimated carbon emissions from your travel on Northwest flights, or in any amount.

The Nature Conservancy works to preserve natural habitats and has protected more than 177 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide and has more than 100 marine conservation projects throughout the world. WorldPerks members donated more than one million miles to The Nature Conservancy last year.