Cemex announced plans last month to reintroduce the American bison into El Carmen Nature Reserve through a joint venture with AES Mexico and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN).
The American bison is currently on the list of endangered species in Mexico. There is only one herd of genetically pure bison in the country, and it is located at Rancho El Uno in Janos, Chihuahua. The herd is managed by the FMCN.
“The American bison is an emblematic species of grassland ecosystems in northern Mexico. It is a key piece in the operation and conservation of these unique and majestic natural spaces,” said Lorenzo J. de Rosenzweig, CEO of FMCN.
During a three-year period, this joint initiative is intended to translocate 60 specimens from Rancho El Uno to El Carmen Nature Reserve for management purposes, population increase, and expansion of this important species’ distribution. The reintroduction of American bison into El Carmen will initiate the conservation of the second herd of this species in Mexico and will be carried out in coordination with the FMCN and the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).
El Carmen Natural Reserve is a private transboundary conservation area in Mexico and the United States that comprises five different ecosystems and is home to a myriad species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Its main objectives are the recovery of native fauna through the management and protection of populations and their habitat, as well as the reintroduction of several species extinct in the region. The reintroduction of bison will be added to other reintroduction projects that Cemex has sponsored such as the pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep.
“With the enormous challenge that the reintroduction of the bison represents, Cemex increases its legacy of biodiversity conservation in El Carmen Nature Reserve and shows how partnerships between companies and conservation organizations can create a better future for our planet,” said Vicente Saiso, Cemex director of sustainability.
