Mobility and Sustainability.

Volkswagen de México supports the protection of major biodiversity areas

Mexico comes 4th on the list of regions with the highest level of species diversity in the world. And the remaining habitats must be protected to ensure that the region retains this status in the future. 95 percent of the total woodland area and 50 percent of the rain forests in the country have already been destroyed. Alongside the Mexican government, the country's major businesses have also been striving for a number of years to improve the ecological situation in the region. In 2006, Volkswagen launched a research program for species protection under the motto "For the love of the planet".

The project aims to support scientific research in conservation areas. It consists of two categories, a sponsorship prize, the "Conservation Biology Research Award" and a research subsidy. The sponsorship prize of $50,000 is awarded each year to a worthy scientist. The research subsidy of $100,000 is awarded every two years to major nature conservation projects.

The first sponsorship prize of its kind was awarded in 2006 to Gonzalo Halffter Salas for his efforts in optimizing research projects through environmental management processes. Dr. Halffter has also made significant research contributions, including in the fields of biogeography, behaviour research and protection of natural resources. He has had a significant influence on the development of the term "sustainability" and paved the way for the concept of "biosphere reserves" in Mexico.