Alstom Foundation and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a leading global conservation organization, recently announced the beginning of the "Biodiversity Conservation in northwestern part of Yunnan - Meili Mountain and Laojun Mountain" project.

A total of 20,000 villagers from three counties in the Meili Mountain area, and 10 villages of four counties in the Laojun Mountain area will be involved.

The project's goal is to establish a new conservation mechanism to benefit the area ecosystems, communities and local culture.

Alstom, a global leader in power generation and rail infrastructure, announced it would provide financial support totaling 1 million euros over five years, during which the company will also work with TNC to promote the use of alternative energy devices for saving the forests, promote eco-tourism, animal conservation, establish management teams, as well as raise the environmental protection awareness of the local community through educational.

The ultimate program is to achieve biodiversity conservation and economically sustainable development.

"We care about northwestern part of Yunnan, in view of the region's rich bio-diversities. A core value of Chinese traditional philosophy is harmony between man and nature, which is the groundwork for sustainable development," said Claude Burckbuchler, Alstom China president.

He said the project is the best combination of Alstom's corporate social responsibility and the harmony between man and nature.

"We expect further cooperate with the local communities and people in China through this project, and to enhance Alstom's giving back to the society," Burckbuchler added.

Alstom also promoted "50 Dos and 50 Don'ts" among its employees to illustrate the role each individual can play in environmental protection.

A "Green Shopping Bag" project supported by Alstom Foundation will also distribute 40,000 reusable shopping bags to 9,000 employees.

(China Daily 01/05/2009 page10)