Ten trees for one truck

Brazil's Atlantic forest has new friends since 2005: Volkswagen Trucks and Buses and heavy motor tractors. For every truck sold, Volkswagen engages its partner SOS Mata Atlantic to plant ten new trees in the area around Resende in Brazil.

Vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen is treading virgin soil in several senses of the word with its vehicle activity in Brazil. For the first time, the company is producing heavy vehicles in addition to light and medium-weight vehicles. The vehicles in the VW Electronic range, equipped with electronically controlled Common Rail Diesel transmission and low-emission in accordance with Euro III, gained the approval of the specialist press quickly. And they sold more successfully than expected on the Latin-American market. Instead of the 140,000 - 160,000 planned, 2006 saw the financing of 300,000 new trees. The opportunity to make a contribution to the renaturization of important natural resources when buying a truck at an economic price is also a world first.
 
Geographically, the Atlantic rain forest originally stretched along the entire Brazilian coast and as far as Paraguay and Argentina in the South. It also stretched way into the mountainous outback. As a result of deforestation which took place mainly in the 20th century, only disconnected "islands" of the forest remain today. The Atlantic rain forest in Brazil continues to be a hotspot for biodiversity. However, a large number of species are now threatened with extinction.

Although the "Mata Atlanica" was declared a national heritage site in the Brazilian constitution back in 1988, the passing of laws to protect the area was blocked by the congress until December 2006. In the meantime, the area of the forest was reduced to 7 percent of its previous size. The forest also represents and important resource for the local population - approx 70 percent of the people of Brazil. It ensures that the natural living conditions remain and creates endurable climatic conditions for the population. People are now becoming more aware of the importance of preserving and renaturizing the forest. The new law has enabled improved management of the protected areas. As a result, virgin forests have been placed under government protection and use of secondary forests has been limited. The "Future Forest Project" also makes an essential contribution to renaturization, with the private economy, local authorities and organisations of civil societies such as SOS Mata Atlantica joining together.

For Volkswagen, contact to conservationists was established via the key account client Martins Group, Brazil's major wholesale company, which equipped 160 newly purchased VW 9.150E models with a "Green Label" in 2005 to advertise the companies involvement in the Future Forests Project. "We were convinced right from the start that it would also be beneficial for Volkswagen to take part. With our participation in the project, we are communicating our sense of responsibility, as well as the environmentally-friendly technology of our new fuel-saving vehicles", explains Robert Cortes, CEO of Volkswagen Trucks and Buses. "We have received many positive responses from our customers and employees, who see sustainable development of the region as an important topic in today's society."

Since 2005, all vehicles in the Electronic range come equipped with the "Green Label". For every vehicle sold, a set sum goes to SOS Mata Atlantica, where it is used for reforestation and care of the forest. Further partners in the project are 17 cities in the "Sul-Fluminense" region, including the local authority Resende and neighbouring Porto Real. Within their capabilities, they also make an important contribution to the success of the project. Resende, for example, allocated a piece of land for a tree nursery, where trees have been grown since June 2006. Volkswagen extended its contract with SOS Mata Atlantica in May 2007.