Sixteen environmentally-inspired singers, songwriters and instrumentalists have have come together not only to launch the Musicians United to Sustain the Environment (MUSE) Web site, they've also released a compact disc to help raise money for and educate people about environmental causes.

The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization has released its first CD project, "One Land, One Heart."

"All of us, in one form or another, were already helping the environment through our music," MUSE founder Jim Stolz told the Environmental News Network. "Our belief was that if we joined together, we could make something that was greater than the sum of the musicians, and we think we have. You can do things with a symphony that you just can't do solo."

The group also provides grants to other environmental groups from direct donations it receives. Some of those groups include American Wildlands, Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, the Center for Environmental Equity, Friends of the Bitterroot, Montana Wilderness Association, Native Forest Network, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance and the Predator Conservation Alliance.

MUSE also is receptive to proposals from other 501(c)(3) environmental groups.

MUSE plans to offer subsequent compilation albums and has begun work on a second CD aimed at educating people about the plight of predatory animals, including the coyote, grizzly bear, lynx and wolf.

All musicians, producers, sound engineers and graphic designers work as volunteers in the collaborative effort.

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