Cemex celebrate 25th anniversary of El Carmen
Company marks 25 years of biodiversity conservation and restoration at El Carmen Nature Reserve
YESTERDAY [Monday 3 March], Cemex celebrated the 25th anniversary of their El Carmen Nature Reserve on World Wildlife Day, reaffirming their commitment to scientific research, habitat and species conservation, and restoration.
Spanning 130,000ha – an area similar in size to Los Angeles – this nature reserve between Mexico and the US is one of North America’s most biodiverse areas and one of the world’s greatest wilderness regions.
‘Through our conservation efforts, we are restoring habitats and protecting wildlife and flora in a region vital for biodiversity,’ said Fernando A. González, chief executive officer of Cemex.
‘Twenty-five years of collaboration with environmental organizations at El Carmen strengthens Cemex’s nature-positive strategy and commitment to a more sustainable future.’
El Carmen encompasses five distinct ecosystems and is home to more than 1,500 plant species, 289 bird species, 81 reptile and amphibian species, and 80 mammal species.
The reserve has received multiple recognitions, including the Wildlife Habitat Council’s prestigious Gold Conservation Certification, the highest certification awarded by the Council.
Cemex recently launched a rewilding project at El Carmen that successfully reintroduced the American bison, with 117 now residing in the reserve. After a century of absence, the species completed its first breeding cycle, with the first native bison calves born in 2023.
Over the last 25 years, El Carmen has also successfully reintroduced other species, including desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and desert mule deer, and is home to one of Mexico's largest black bear populations. This rewilding initiative has boosted biodiversity and enhanced the ecosystem’s CO2 removal capacity by increasing biomass stocks.
To mark its anniversary, Cemex unveiled a new logo for El Carmen and a revamped dedicated website that captures the nature reserve’s vibrant wildlife and biodiversity.
Driven by conservation, restoration, and enhancement efforts, Cemex say they are committed to making a positive impact and contributing to a nature-positive, carbon-neutral future, with a focus on conserving biodiversity and ecosystems within and beyond their operations, and aiming to mitigate climate change and promote healthy natural habitats.
