 Case
Studies of French Companies
Lafarge
Lafarge,
a world leader in construction materials, and the World
Wildlife Fund (WWF), a conservation organization, are partnering
under the framework of the WWF’s "Conservation Partner"
Programme. With the help of the WWF, Lafarge is developing a biodiversity
policy and strategy, raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity,
and integrating it into its worldwide quarry rehabilitation programme.
In addition, Lafarge is supporting WWF in the area of ecological
restoration of forests through the “Forests Reborn”
project.
A key example of Lafarge’s work with WWF are
the former quarries of the Bamburi cement plant near Mombasa, Kenya,
which has been restored as a nature reserve over the last thirty
years. It has become a refuge for biodiversity, while at the same
time maintaining its economic viability. Some of the results of
the program are that of the 422 indigenous plant species introduced
into the newly created ecosystems, 364 survived, including 30 that
are on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened
Species. For more information visit www.lafarge.com.
Perrier
Perrier
seeks to safeguard natural conditions in the soil and sub-soil in
order to preserve the quality of Perrier's spring. Today, Perrier
has planted and maintains some 1,235 acres of woodland to preserve
the environment around the spring, allowing the area to act as a
natural filter for the water. Perrier has also established agricultural
guidelines for adjacent areas and consequently, farmers and growers
in the 8,650 adjacent acres can now label their produce ‘organically
grown.’ All ecological measures are then certified by a third
party responsible for constant monitoring of compliance with the
guidelines. Perrier has also established a scientific monitoring
and advisory program for farmers, supplementing the guidelines with
the latest research data and best practices for the site's surroundings.
For more information visit www.perrier.com.
Photo Credit: Jo Zaremba, Earthwatch Institute
(Europe) |
