General Motors is the newest supporter of Felinos Pantaneiros (Pantanal Felines), a pioneering and innovative project for the conservation of the Pantanal biome through the protection and management of large felines, such as the iconic jaguar, seeking harmonious coexistence with the region’s economic activities. In addition to backing the scientific and environmental education activities carried out by the Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (IHP), the company wrapped a Chevrolet S10 Z71 pickup truck with the project’s branding for use in field activities.
On Thursday morning (17), in the institute’s home city of Corumbá, representatives from GM and IHP took part in the ceremony announcing the partnership and delivering the S10 Z71 pickup truck. “Supporting projects like Felinos Pantaneiros is part of GM’s vision for a sustainable future. Preserving biomes and their biodiversity is fundamental for Brazil and for the planet; and we, as a major company operating in the region, need to take on this responsibility and help care not only for society, but also for the environment we are part of”, says Marina Willisch, vice president of Communications, Government Relations and ESG.
General Motors already works to preserve biomes in and around its plants, including environmental education, mapping and species conservation projects. Most of its operations are located in Atlantic Forest regions; however, the company’s goal is to expand this scope of preservation in Brazil, and it is therefore now offering financial and logistical support to the Felinos Pantaneiros project, contributing to biodiversity conservation in another Brazilian biome: the Pantanal.
One of the greatest exponents of this biome, the jaguar is considered Vulnerable on the MMA’s (Ministry of the Environment) List of Threatened Species and Near Threatened on the IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. According to Ângelo Rabelo, president of IHP, these felines suffer from the destruction of their natural habitat, from the fires that have hit the Pantanal in recent years, and also from the risk of being run over, for example. “Our work is to propose and carry out management actions to minimize production conflicts, ensuring best practices and harmony among all those involved, and also to seek the preservation of these animals’ habitat.”
As a reveal of the vehicle and the Program’s visual identity, the Cia de Dança do Pantanal (Pantanal Dance Company), of the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Moinho Cultural Institute), performed a dance for the event’s climax.
Biodiversity conservation
Beyond its local impact, GM is committed to the global targets involving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. Among its numerous sustainability actions in Brazil and around the world, support for Felinos Pantaneiros is linked to SDG 15 – Life on Land.
Through the 27 biodiversity maintenance projects promoted by GM in Brazil, more than 430 species have already been mapped. All of the company’s units in the country hold Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) certification, which attests to the sustainability of operations, engagement in conservation education activities, and the enhancement of biodiversity on corporate properties.
On the environmental education front, the company has already reached more than 100 schools and 6,000 students with projects carried out since 2011. Currently, the initiatives are present around all of GM’s plants in Brazil: Gravataí (RS), Indaiatuba (SP), Joinville (SC), Mogi das Cruzes (SP), São Caetano do Sul (SP), São José dos Campos (SP) and Sorocaba (SP).
GM
General Motors is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which electrifies everything from entry-level cars to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and joint ventures sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information about the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.
IHP
IHP – Founded in 2002, IHP is a nonprofit civil society organization that works on area management and the conservation and preservation of the Pantanal biome and local culture. Its mission is “To Preserve the Pantanal”. It is headquartered in Corumbá – Mato Grosso do Sul.
Among the Institution’s main programs is the management of the Rede de Proteção e Conservação da Serra do Amolar (Amolar Range Protection and Conservation Network, known as Rede do Amolar), created in 2008, which aims to propose integrated management actions among partner organizations for the protection of 276,000 hectares, of which 201,000 hectares are legally protected. The initiative arose from the partnership between IHP, Instituto Acaia Pantanal, Fazenda Santa Tereza, Fundação Ecotrópica and Parque Nacional do Pantanal Mato-grossense/Instituto Chico Mendes (ICMBio) and the Environmental Military Police.
