Community Updates

Wildlife Habitat Council Recognizes General Motors’ Ongoing Commitment to Biodiversity and Conservation

General Motors’ CAMI Assembly Plant in Canada has received the Wildlife Habitat Council’s highest recognition for overall excellence in corporate conservation, the Gold Program Award. General Motors continues to lead the industry with the most WHC Conservation Certification sites — 75 — and is at nearly 85 percent of its goal to achieve certification at all its manufacturing sites by 2020.

Published 6 years ago | About a 2 minute read

General Motors’ CAMI Assembly Plant in Canada has received the Wildlife Habitat Council’s highest recognition for overall excellence in corporate conservation, the Gold Program Award. General Motors continues to lead the industry with the most WHC Conservation Certification sites — 75 — and is at nearly 85 percent of its goal to achieve certification at all its manufacturing sites by 2020.

“Our environmental team, along with our Unifor Local 88 partners, have been at the forefront of protecting and preserving the environment and community in which we live and work,” said Gary Duff, plant manager, General Motors CAMI Assembly. “Our local activities and efforts, no matter how big or small, help protect the planet and move General Motors closer to our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.”

Now celebrating its 30-year anniversary, the WHC’s certification program is the only voluntary sustainability standard built on the best practices of global recognition programs. The program recognizes a company’s efforts to use its land, resources and partnerships to help address pressing global biodiversity issues.

“General Motors Canada CAMI Assembly Plant has exceeded the standard set for Conservation Certification,” said Margaret O’Gorman, president, WHC. “The program at CAMI Assembly had a total of 13 qualifying projects this year, ranging from management of grassland and wetland habitats to outreach events for the community. This award is a testament to General Motors' commitment to conservation.”

Community engagement and employee involvement play significant roles in the company’s efforts to drive impact. For example, CAMI Unifor Local 88 employees volunteer at Oxford’s Children’s Water Festival, a four-day community event held every three years, to educate local elementary school students about the importance of water. At the event, employees engage students on water-related concepts through hands-on activities. This year, more than 3,600 students participated.

General Motors received its first WHC wildlife certification in 2002 at its Saginaw Metal Casting Operations. The company now manages more than 5,000 acres of wildlife habitats in 16 countries. In 2018, global operations that joined General Motors’ list of WHC-certified sites include Avtovz Togliatti, Russia; SGMW Hexi Base Liuzhou, China; and Cheongna Proving Grounds, Korea.

General Motors’ biodiversity efforts reduce its environmental footprint, drive business value and savings, maximize benefits in the communities where it operates and support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal to halt biodiversity loss. For more information on General Motors’ environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.