Cemex announced today a joint project with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Conservation International, and The WILD Foundation to promote awareness of natural sites of great relevance to all mankind.

Iconic natural sites such as Galapagos Islands, the Okavango Delta, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Ha Long Bay, or the Yellowstone National Park, are recognised by UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention, which seeks to promote cooperation among nations to identify the world’s most outstanding natural and cultural areas and conserve them for future generations.

The protection of these unique and diverse places requires great effort and represents a major challenge., Cemex notes. Together with four conservation organisations, the company commits to building awareness about natural World Heritage sites, helping to promote and develop a culture of appreciation and respect for nature among its own stakeholders and, by extension, the global community.

Earth´s Legacy: Natural World Heritage
As part of this effort, Cemex will release later this year the book “Earth´s Legacy: Natural World Heritage”. This is the third volume of CEMEX’s Nature Series which builds on the tradition of Cemex's Conservation Series, a 20-volume collection of books that published its first volume in 1993. The book includes images of some of the most respected conservation photographers in the world as well as the description of more than 100 amazing natural sites which need to be protected.

"UNESCO World Heritage Sites are truly "the best of the best" of our natural and cultural heritage, the world´s most iconic places that all of human society should strive to protect. In this new book, "Earth's Legacy: Natural World Heritage, we highlight the natural sites recognized by the World Heritage Convention and through strong visual imagery portray them in their full glory. We are most grateful to Cemex for once again producing such a high quality book, the 23rd in their ongoing series on the wonders of the natural world," said Dr Russell Mittermeier, Executive Vice Chair of Conservation International and Chair of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group.

“World Heritage Areas encompass some of the most spectacular wilderness areas remaining on earth. We must protect them for their own values, as well as recognize their value for a healthy, sane and prosperous human society,” said Vance G. Martin, President of The WILD Foundation and Co-Chairman of the Wilderness Specialists Group, IUCN.

 “We are pleased to work with these organizations and publish this compelling contribution to the conservation of natural World Heritage sites. Together we can make a significant contribution to discussions and actions that improve and preserve the biodiversity in every corner of the planet,” stated Fernando A. Gonzalez, CEO of Cemex. “The celebration of the World Environment Day has provided us with the ideal framework to make this announcement.”