Cherish the nature - IUCN and Chery launch multi-country partnership for nature conservation
Wuhu, China, 20 October 2024 – IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and Chery Group, an emerging global leader in automotive manufacturing, have launched a significant environmental partnership – Cherish the Nature – aiming at supporting the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of over 10 million hectares of ecosystems worldwide.
In October 2023, IUCN and Chery signed a Memorandum of Understanding, reflecting their mutual interests in nature conservation, environmental education and public outreach. Joint efforts since then have made strides toward achieving shared goals through in-country projects. A seagrass restoration initiative in the Mediterranean has been co-developed, with similar efforts underway in South Africa, Viet Nam, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
"IUCN is excited to collaborate with Chery in advancing biodiversity conservation and ecological sustainability," said Rachel Asante, IUCN Senior Programme Coordinator for Climate Change and Energy Transition. “This partnership demonstrates how businesses can play a pivotal role in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. It could inspire further private and public partnerships to contribute meaningfully to global conservation efforts with innovations, especially businesses with significant global reach”.
As a leading player in the Chinese automotive industry, Chery has long been committed to promoting environmental sustainability. "Chery is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also advancing ecological sustainability by investing in technological innovation and promoting green solutions," noted Yin Tongyue, Chairman of Chery Group. "The collaboration with IUCN represents a significant step forward in Chery’s efforts to contribute to global conservation and sustainable development.” Chery Group will invest USD 3.5 million in this partnership.
“Together with Chery, IUCN aims to drive impactful environmental outcomes by restoring ecosystems, conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development practices globally. The partnership will specifically focus on areas such as watershed conservation, wetland restoration, ocean protection and species preservation. It is one of the largest partnerships IUCN has ever had with the business sector,” added Yan Zhang, Head of IUCN China Office.
The partnership was launched at a dedicated event during the 2024 Chery International User Summit. Over 1,000 delegates from governments, businesses, media, and other sectors, representing more than 40 countries, participated in the event and subsequent environmental education activities. Participants also learned about the critically threatened species of the Yangtze River.
The partnership launch was also attended by prominent figures, including Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation, and Dame Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Both warmly welcomed the IUCN-Chery partnership and emphasised its significance.