Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

WWF, Mexican billionaire donate $100M to preserve biodiversity

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-05 13:50

MEXICO CITY - The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Mexican Billionaire Carlos Slim jointly announced on Thursday to donate US$100 million to Mexico to help it preserve animal and plant biodiversity.

The Fund and Slim will each give 50 million dollars to the Mexican government, helping the nation to better preserve its flora and fauna species, which exceed 10 million, representing 60 to 70 percent of the total amount on the planet.

Special coverage:  World Environment Day Related readings:  World Environment Day marked in Cozumel  Ordinary folk doing their bit to protect the environment  China to open environment hotline  Eight bits of green wisdom for World Environment Day

"I believe that looking after the environment will be one of the big generators of jobs in the future," Slim said on a beach on Mexico's Caribbean island of Cozumel at the launch of the alliance, a day before the UN World Environment day, hosted by Mexico.

"Whether there's a crisis or not, the cost of looking after the environment and reducing risks is more advisable than not doing anything," Slim said.

"I am glad to participate in this agreement with the WWF and with the Mexican government to support the care of the environment, which is a global concern," he told reporters.

The donation will be for 17 natural reserves located in six regions of the country, including northern deserts, tropical Caribbean beaches and eastern jungles, representing 30 percent of the country.

Funding from public and private sectors will increase later, said Mexican Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada.