"The fate of the birds is the fate of the earth; the fate of the earth is the fate of humanity" Birds and People

Birds are a precious indicator of biodiversity and a healthy environment. To further integrate the protection of the environment in its business, CEMEX signed a 10-year global agreement with the international bird and biodiversity conservation organization, BirdLife International in Brussels, on December 5^th, 2007.

"We welcome this long-term commitment to partnership between industry and conservation. Working together and focusing on birds, we can make a real, positive contribution to biodiversity and the wider environment."

"We know the cement and aggregates industry as well as other extractive activities generate ecological footprints. Aiming to minimize this impact, CEMEX takes action for the conservation and management of biodiversity. This agreement builds on CEMEX's current environmental initiatives worldwide and is symbolic of our commitment to ensuring that our operations are carried out in an environmentally sound manner. Our partnership with BirdLife International will enable us to benefit from their unrivalled knowledge on biodiversity issues and help to further improve our performance to become a more sustainable company."

• raise the environmental awareness, knowledge and skills of CEMEX employees, site-adjacent communities and other stakeholders.
• minimize and off-set net biodiversity loss at CEMEX sites through support for wider conservation initiatives.
• identify and pursue wider strategic initiatives through integrated approaches to sustainable development with targeted benefits for birds, biodiversity and people.
• maximize opportunities for enhancing conditions for bird populations at CEMEX sites through improved environmental management practices, including impact avoidance, mitigation, rehabilitation and closure planning.

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of autonomous, national non-governmental conservation organizations, in over 100 countries and territories. BirdLife works together as a Partnership to conserve wild birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, by working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. BirdLife is the global authority on the status of bird species, has unparalleled technical expertise in bird and biodiversity assessment, and provides a global outreach through its national Partners and decentralized Secretariat.

Birds and People: Bonds in a Timeless Journey illustrates the ways birds have been of value to humankind through the millennia. It also explores what we can learn from studying bird behavior. For instance, by changing their habits such as arriving earlier on their breeding grounds or shifting their ranges towards the poles, birds are warning us about an environmental threat.

The book, with 360 pages and color photos from the world's greatest bird photographers, will be sold to support BirdLife fundraising efforts. It is available now from the NHBS Environment bookstore, www.nhbs.com/birdsandpeople.