BASF donates $2,000 to Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Grant will support threatened, endangered species protection

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., January 25, 2005 -- BASF recently presented a $2,000 “Helping Make Communities Better” grant to the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge will use the funding to support its effort to protect and restore the habitat of the bog turtle, a species designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as “threatened,” found on the 7,600-acre refuge located in Morris County, New Jersey. It will also be used to support the site’s survey efforts for the Indiana bat, which is on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s list of “endangered” species.

“This generous donation from BASF will greatly support our management capability directed towards the recovery of the bog turtle and the Indiana bat,” said William Koch, Refuge Manager, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. “We will continue our survey efforts and restoration activities for the bog turtle and initiate a survey for the Indiana bat. This is a wonderful contribution to the recovery of these two species and we are very happy and appreciative that BASF chose to support the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.”

“At BASF, we recognize that we have a particular responsibility to be a good corporate citizen of the communities in which we operate and to help preserve and protect the environment,” said Don McGrath, Vice President, Corporate Communications in North America. “We are proud to support the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and its comprehensive wildlife management program.”

The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1960 to protect and manage habitat for migratory birds, to conserve wetlands and natural resources for national benefit and the obligation of international treaties, to allow incidental fish and wildlife recreation and for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. The refuge provides a nesting and feeding area for more than 244 species of birds. It is also home to fox, deer, muskrat, turtles, fish, frogs, and a variety of wildflowers and plants. The refuge is one of more than 544 National Wildlife Refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, which is administered by the Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional information can also be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website www.fws.gov and on the Great Swamp NWR website greatswamp.fws.gov.

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BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. We employ about 11,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $9 billion in 2003. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Our goal is to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company. We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. BASF’s portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities. We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In 2003, BASF had sales of approximately $42 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Glenn Majeski
BASF
Florham Park, N.J.
Tel: (973) 245-6070
E-mail: majeskg@basf.com