FedEx and Conservation International collaborate in China
Conservation International (CI) announced a major investment by FedEx Corp. to support environmental projects in China. FedEx will donate $600,000 to CI to run ten community conservation projects in China’s Sichuan Province that will assist in the survival of one of the region’s most well-known natives – the giant panda.
Together, FedEx and CI will support reforestation in Sichuan Province, which was severely impacted by a major earthquake in 2008, and raise environmental awareness through programmes designed to empower FedEx employees to share the importance of a balanced ecosystem with their community.
“This alliance with Conservation International demonstrates not only a shared ideology between our respective organizations for the sustainability of our planet, but also our collective commitment to help in the rebuilding efforts of the affected region,” said David L. Cunningham, Jr., president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. “I am proud that FedEx employees will play an active role in the environmental awareness program to educate and convey conservation issues important to the communities where we operate.”
FedEx supports CI’s work in ten community conservation projects that will reforest areas that were destroyed by the May 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province.
The 8.0-magnitude earthquake took over 69,000 lives and caused $124bn in damage, including destruction of panda habitat. The reforestation effort will primarily involve planting of native plant species such as bamboo, which will restore and protect the panda’s habitat as well as provide the animal’s primary food source.
The employee environmental outreach program was developed by CI for FedEx so that employees can share knowledge about the environment in their communities. CI will train employees to give two presentations – one on ecosystems and the other on the forest area that makes up the panda habitat. The training will help employees and in turn their communities understand how reforestation efforts are helping to lower global carbon emissions and leading to more sustainable forestry practices.
