Nature Conservation as a Factor for Success
The diversity of species – animals and plants - helps to determine the quality and richness of human life. It ensures healthy food, clean water, fertile soils and a balanced climate. | Nature inspires researchers and developers and continually provides solutions for innovative products. Wherever we look—design, climate technology or packaging, sensor technology and architecture, material development, micro and nano-technology—we take our lead from nature. |
| It was only by studying the lotus leaf that enabled us to use the self-cleaning effect on windscreens. By the same token, the locking system used in roofs, boots or upholstered seats in cars works according to the principle of burdock fruits. |
For a long time, environmental protection has been the basis and the factor for success of corporate action. Volkswagen is a good example of this. Our environmental management not only protects soils, air and water – it also helps us to improve processes and save costs.
Volkswagen has also been involved in nature and species conservation at many sites worldwide for a long time.
Bringing Wildlife Back to the Aller Plain
| From a dead straight watercourse to a meandering natural river - over an area of over 100 hectares between Kästorf and Warmenau the Aller has been returned to its original condition in the vicinity of the Wolfsburg plant. |
With this large-scale nature conservation project Volkswagen and the City of Wolfsburg has done much more than a mere replacement for small areas that had previously been lost in plant extensions. | For example, wetlands and habitats have been created for many rare plant and animal species. Little ringed plovers and northern wheatears have already returned, and the greater spearwort is flowering again in the Aller Valley. And to top it all: aurochses and konik horses act as living lawnmowers. |
The next step is to set up a nature experience trail. | And that's what we want. Volkswagen supports the reintroduction of wolf packs to Central Europe. We counter prejudices with information and education and, together with dedicated nature conservationists, we are gaining acceptance for the co-existence of wolves and people. |
| The Cerrado bush land in Central Brazil is one of the dying natural landscapes of the continent. The traditional vegetation is to live again in a nature conservation area near the Sao Carlos Volkswagen plant. |
| Volkswagen is doing its utmost to support the reforestation project. For a long time, the company has also been supporting the "Parque Ecologico", the biggest zoo in Sao Paulo State. Animals at risk of extinction, such as the Andean condor, the Cerrado wolf or the spectacled bear are kept there appropriately and protected. |
In guided tours and by means of projects, pupils from Sao Carlos learn how important the preservation of biological diversity is. In Mexico, too, Volkswagen is among the pioneers in nature and species conservation. As the biggest private donor in the country, since 2006 VW de México has sponsored the scientific research of nature conservation areas. Title of the Programme: "For the Love of the Planet". | The giant panda is one of the most endangered species in the world. Fewer than 1000 pandas still live in the misty bamboo forests of South-Western China. Nevertheless, in recent years Beijing Zoo has conducted a very successful breeding programme. |
As Volkswagen has financially supported the panda research centre, the company is, to a certain extent, one of the fathers of the baby pandas. Species Conservation as a Community Task |
| The conservation of biological diversity is a matter for us all. That is why, in the summer of 2007, Volkswagen decided to support the success of the UN Conference on Biodiversity in Bonn in May 2008 with an information campaign. |
"On the Road for Diversity" – there can hardly be a more appropriate motto for Europe's No.1 car manufacturer.
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Background to the subject of species protection