Cemex celebrated the 25th anniversary of its El Carmen Nature Reserve on World Wildlife Day (3 March 2025), reaffirming its commitment to scientific research, habitat and species conservation and restoration.
Spanning 130,000 hectares—an area similar in size to Los Angeles—this nature reserve between Mexico and the United States is one of North America’s most biodiverse areas and one of the world’s greatest wilderness regions.
“Through our conservation efforts, we are restoring habitats and protecting wildlife and flora in a region vital for biodiversity,” said Fernando A. González, CEO of Cemex. “25 years of collaboration with environmental organizations at El Carmen strengthens Cemex’s nature-positive strategy and commitment to a more sustainable future.”
El Carmen encompasses five distinct ecosystems and is home to over 1,500 plant species, 289 bird species, 81 reptile and amphibian species, and 80 mammal species. The reserve has received multiple recognitions, including the Wildlife Habitat Council’s prestigious Gold Conservation Certification, the highest certification awarded by the Council.
Cemex recently launched a rewilding project at El Carmen that successfully reintroduced the American bison, with 117 now residing in the reserve. After a century of absence, the species completed its first breeding cycle, with the first native bison calves born in 2023. Over the last 25 years, El Carmen has also successfully reintroduced other species, including desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and desert mule deer, and is home to one of Mexico’s largest black bear populations. This rewilding initiative has boosted biodiversity and enhanced the ecosystem’s CO2 removal capacity by increasing biomass stocks.
To mark its anniversary, Cemex unveiled a new logo for El Carmen and a revamped dedicated website that captures the nature reserve’s vibrant wildlife and biodiversity.
Driven by conservation, restoration, and enhancement efforts, Cemex is committed to positively impacting and contributing to a nature-positive, carbon-neutral future. The company is focused on conserving biodiversity and ecosystems within and beyond its operations, aiming to mitigate climate change and promote healthy natural habitats.
Uncover the unique biodiversity of Cemex’s El Carmen Reserve. Learn more at: https://www.elcarmenreserve.com/
