| Protecting endangered species - Holcim Apasco and Holcim Morocco |
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Description Holcim Apasco, our Mexican subsidiary, runs a green iguana breeding center near its Acapulco plant. In Morocco, our Group company has launched a project to breed the bald ibis, a bird species threatened by extinction, and reintroduce young birds into the wild. |
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Objective Besides improving the image of the Acapulco plant, which had in the past been a target of local environmental complaints, the project helps to foster ecological awareness among employees and the surrounding community. The Holcim Morocco project benefits the environment as well as the 35 families living near the well dug for the project. They had previously been fetching water from 15 kilometers away. |
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ActivitiesSince the project began in 1998, more than 3,500 students, iguana specialists, and environmental groups have visited the site. The program has also provided assistance and support to local farmer groups in developing their own breeding centers. The breeding and research station of the Holcim Morocco project includes two climate-controlled aviaries, a house for the keeper, workspace for the researchers, and buildings for storing materials and preparing food for the birds. |
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Results Both projects demonstrate that we are contributing to wider conservation initiatives. Holcim Apasco is proud to have developed the environmental knowledge and special handling techniques that make this project, the first of its kind in the region, so successful. In Morocco, by conserving biodiversity and preserving ecosystems, and at the same time improving the living conditions of the surrounding population, this project shores up two vital pillars of sustainable development. |
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