- REWE GroupPressPress ReleasesREWE and Chiquita Take Joint Step to Preserve the Diversity of Species in Panama
REWE and Chiquita Take Joint Step to Preserve the Diversity of Species in Panama
Rolle (CH) / Cologne (D), 13.07.09
REWE Group and Chiquita donated to the neighbourhood initiative "Aamecona" 130 hectares of pastureland in the nature reserve of San San Pond Sak in Panama
Dr. Martin Küssner, member of the senior management of REWE's Full-range National divison said "the partnership between REWE and Chiquita is based on the conviction that threatened habitats and species can only be preserved with the support and the involvement of the local people".
The restoration of the natural habitats in the donated area will start immediately with the planting of 9,000 collected and germinated seeds of local plant varieties. The first trees were planted in June when representatives of REWE and Chiquita visited the nature reserve of San San Pond Sak, which is located right next to Chiquita's banana farms in the province of Bocas del Toro in Panama. Local and international volunteers are currently supervising the hatching of the leatherback turtles and monitor the natural habitat of the threatened sea cows living in this area. Volunteers, including employees of Chiquita, built a protected nesting site to which 4,500 turtle eggs have been resettled. By the end of April, the team in charge counted 162 leatherback turtle nests on the Caribbean beaches of the nature reserve.
"Our partnership with REWE offers us the opportunity to contribute to the huge diversity of species in the region and to promote the well-being of local municipalities in Panama", said Michel Loeb, President Chiquita Europe & Middle East. "This project in cooperation with REWE and the authorities in Panama is another example for our long-term commitment in the area of entrepreneurial responsibility."
The marshland was donated following the announcement of the partnership between Chiquita and REWE at the beginning of 2009, by which a multi-tier programme for the preservation of the variety of species in the nature reserve of San San Pond Sak in Panama was initiated. Due to its great importance for the environment, this biosphere reserve was awarded by the UNESCO (the Untied Nation's organisation for education, science, culture and communication).
The partnership is dedicated to the sustainable protection of threatened habitats and species, which particularly include the mangroves, lagoons and beaches of the nature reserve of San San Pond Sak. In cooperation with local, national and international environmental organisations, the Chiquita-REWE partnership will also contribute to improving the living conditions and the economic situation of the people in the region and to the promotion of the environmental awareness through programmes for schools, municipalities and Chiquita employees.
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