Nature Conservation

En route to biological diversity
Most people are familiar with the term climate, but it's a different story when you utter the word biodiversity. In preparation for the UN conservation conference to be held in Bonn in May 2008, the German government therefore launched a major information campaign in the summer of 2007. Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel also established a "nature alliance" — a confederation of well-known names from the fields of science and culture as well as companies and NGOs that are keen to help make society aware of the need to retain biological diversity. As a partner and primary sponsor of the campaign, in autumn 2007 Volkswagen facilitated a four-week tour of Germany under the banner "Unterwegs für Vielfalt" ("En route to diversity"); all 16 German states were able to take part. The roadshow featured an eye-catching converted 'infobus', and gave Volkswagen the opportunity to inform the public about its own global activities in the fields of conservation, environmental protection and climate protection, as well as introducing them to the VW-NABU project "Willkommen Wolf!". In addition, CEO Prof. Martin Winterkorn joined the "nature alliance".

Offsetting adverse effects on the climate
From paper production to printing through to transportation, producing documentation results in greenhouse gas emissions. The emissions caused by producing the new sustainability report for the Volkswagen Group were offset as part of the climate protection campaign.
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Responsibility for forests
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label on the Volkswagen sustainability report highlights the controlled origin of the pulp used to print the document. Joachim Erb, manager of the printing company MediaLogik, provides background information in the following interview.
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Nature to offset human and industrial activity
One of the first environmental impacts of constructing an industrial plant is land consumption. Sometimes, therefore, construction work must be offset by nature conservation projects. Such projects are the result of statutory requirements and of our commitment to an environmentally sensitive and sustainable automotive production process.

Bridge and stepping stone for threatened species
One current example is our joint project with the City of Wolfsburg for the restoration of the Aller valley. The aim is to link the Barnbruch and Drömling nature reserves, which are situated to the west and east of our plant respectively. This will create 100 ha of floodplain biotopes and habitats for numerous rare plant and animal species right on the Volkswagen plant's doorstep. This project is special in that it combines numerous individual measures which together result in a composite biotope where many natural, frequently threatened species will be able to resettle because they can find suitable conditions there. Land consolidation and drainage work have made such biotopes rare in modern Germany. In the light of this fact, this restoration is particularly valuable in environmental terms.

Remediation and reclamation
Between 1973 and 1985, Volkswagen's Emden plant was officially authorised to operate an in-house landfill site for industrial and building waste. In order to prevent pollutants from escaping into the soil and groundwater, Volkswagen has drawn up a preservation and remediation plan together with the City of Emden. In addition to sealing and groundwater monitoring, the remediation plan also includes reclamation work. Trees and shrubs will be planted here by the end of 2007. Ponds, small watercourses and a diverse grassland and wildflower meadow are taking shape.

Trees for a coastal forest
The Volkswagen Group is conducting nature conservation projects not just in Germany but at almost all its plants worldwide. In Brazil, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is involved on a voluntary basis in an afforestation project to create coastal forest on the Atlantic seaboard. In 2006, Volkswagen Trucks & Buses Brazil, the SOS-Mata Atlântica NGO and a number of towns in the state of Rio de Janeiro joined forces to plant 200,000 trees. These are to be followed by a further 200,000 in 2007. The aim is also to involve our Brazilian customers: for every truck with an electronic engine management system sold, the Volkswagen Group has planted ten trees.
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Habitat for 62 species of birds
Volkswagen Argentina has created an artificial lake at its Pacheco plant in Buenos Aires. It is intended as a reservoir for fire fighting, but has also developed into a habitat for many animals and plants. There are also more than 4,000 newly planted trees growing here, with more to follow.

Reforestation in Spain and the USA
Planting new trees in formerly wooded regions helps to bind CO² into biomass. It contributes to the protection of the cli-mate and is also an effective means of creating a new habi-tat for endangered species. Volkswagen makes a targeted contribution to this process.
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