For about 10 years, students at the Bethune Academy in Haines City have been learning in a rather unconventional way. These students regularly visit property owned by cement and concrete manufacturer, CEMEX, in order to study the wildlife, vegetation, and fishing found in abundance on the property.

Approximately two years ago, administrators from the Karen M. Siegel Academy, a public school for special needs children, contacted a Bethune science teacher, Alicia Hughes, for some tips and advice for their science programs. Hughes was quick to share their experiences in the outdoor classroom on the CEMEX Environment property. In no time, students from the Siegel Academy were tagging along with the Bethune students in an effort to dig deeper and get a hands-on experience with science.

Both schools are ecstatic about the partnership. Hughes expressed the importance of exposing the students to new experiences that they may not otherwise have. Donna Swindle, principal of the Siegel Academy echoes Hughes’ sentiments and further emphasized the significance this experience has on her students’ social skills.

While on the CEMEX property, the students attend four different stations: fishing (or species counting), owl pellet investigation, bird house building, and studying pond water. The most popular station is fishing, where students catch a fish, indentify it, kiss it (optional), and throw it back into the pond.

CEMEX created this property approximately 10 years ago out of an area of shoreline was no longer being mined. Since then, the land has grown with thousands of plants being added to the ecosystem, enhancing the wetlands that were there originally.

CEMEX decided they didn’t want to simply write a check. Instead, they wanted to do something that would really make a difference in the lives of these students. They have continued to live by this initiative by paying for transportation for the students, substitute teachers required, and lunch and refreshments for the students.

CEMEX California recognizes the negative effects the economy has had on programs such as this, and they are committed to maintaining the program. Employees have volunteered 1,500 hours and provided about $30,000 for various school projects.

CEMEX, the Mexico-based cement manufacturer, recently released a beautifully illustrated book describing the strategies of shared environmental responsibility between business and environmental groups in protecting wilderness preserves. Transboundary Conservation: A New Vision for Protected Areas covers the work of 50 conservationists, scientists, and photographers, focusing upon 29 transboundary parks around the world. These transboundary parks include El Carmen-Big Bend, Glacier National Park, and Kavango-Zambezi, among many others.

“This new book shows how transboundary conservation areas have a very special role in international conservation,” said co-author Dr. Russell A. Mittermeier, president of Conservation International. “It examines the importance of protecting land across borders as well as the impact on human populations if these areas of rich biodiversity are degraded or lost.”

The title Transboundary Conservation comes from the new terminology for international efforts to protect complete ecosystems that cross international borders. The first such park was Montana’s Glacier National Park, which was was joined with Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. Since then, the concept has expanded to more than 100 parks and protected areas throughout the world.

Transboundary conservation areas, or TBCAs, have several important advantages. They can reduce tensions between countries and help rebuild peaceful cooperation. Peace parks celebrate historically good relations along with a shared commitment to managing precious natural resources.

CEMEX, in partnership with Conservation International and the International League of Conservation Photographers, published Transboundary Conservation in accordance to CEMEX environmental policies and its efforts to be a good steward and promote air quality.

“Transboundary Conservation is the 13th in our series of conservation books,” said Armando J. Garcia, executive vice president of development, CEMEX. “Similar to its predecessors, this book illustrates methods on how to protect the world’s biodiversity and works to promote a culture of environmental awareness within our communities and our society at large.”

Sensitive to its impact on the environment and air quality, CEMEX strives to minimize its environmental footprint while still serving the needs of its expanding markets. CEMEX’s air quality and environmental stances are crucial to its success, as the quality of life and corporate responsibility go hand in hand with profits and competitiveness. Transboundry Conversation is just one part of CEMEX’s environmental initiative.

Conservation International (CI) uses innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth’s richest regions of plant and animal diversity and demonstrate that human societies can live harmoniously with nature. Founded in 1987, CI works in more than 40 countries on four continents to help people find economic alternatives without harming their natural environments. The International League of Conservation Photographers works to promote the critical importance of photography for conservation, increase support for the creation of meaningful images, and stop illegal wildlife trade.