CEMEX takes part in successful bison conservation project in Northern Mexico

El Carmen Nature Reserve is a private cross-border conservation area in Mexico and the United States that contains five different ecosystems and habitats to diverse species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians over more than 140 000 ha. It is one of the five largest wildlife areas in the world, and within its main objectives, is the recovery of native fauna through the management and protection of populations and their habitats, as well as the reintroduction of extinct species in the region.

Renée González, General Director of FMCN, said “This is a great achievement for the conservation of threatened species, thanks to the close alliances forged between the government, civil society and the private sector. With this new pack, we reinforce the importance of Mexico to protect an emblematic species for North America.”

José Arosa, General Director of AES Mexico, commented, “In AES, we are interested in supporting projects that have the objective of preserving the biodiversity of Mexico and raising awareness about its importance. As part of our commitment to the country, we will continue to join forces to trigger these conservation initiatives, which connect us with a vision for the future and call us to global cooperation to achieve societies with more opportunities in harmony with the environment.”

Vicente Saisó, Director of Sustainability of CEMEX, said, “For almost two decades, we have carried out different alliances with companies and conservation organisations to protect and increase biodiversity in El Carmen. Examples of this include the reintroduction of the American bison, the bighorn sheep, and the pronghorn, as well as the increase in the populations of desert mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black bear.”

Roberto Aviña Carlín, National Commissioner of CONANP, said, “The establishment of bison herds in Mexico contributes significantly to the recovery of the species on a continental scale and is a case of success in the recovery of endangered species through the narrow collaboration of civil society organisations, academia, private sector and national and international government instances.”

The American bison is the largest land mammal on the continent and was present in the plains of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In Mexico, American bison lived in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Durango; however, it was excised in the second half of the 19th century. Currently, it is a species that is in danger of extinction in Mexico. The recovery of their populations in the north of the country is key since it seeks to restore the grasslands native to the region.

Prior to this collaboration, the only herd of bison considered genetically pure was at Rancho El Uno, owned by FMCN, located within the Janos Biosphere Reserve, Chihuahua. Of this herd, 19 specimens were translocated to El Carmen, located in Maderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area by a team of wildlife management specialists. The specimens were selected with the technical support of the General Wildlife Direction of SEMARNAT. This plan to reintroduce the American bison in El Carmen Nature Reserve was launched in April of 2019, and it will continue in the next two years with the translocation of additional specimens, which will gradually consolidate and grow the Bisons’ population in a sustainable way.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/04032020/cemex-takes-part-in-successful-bison-conservation-project-in-northern-mexico/