March 3, 2020

• After an absence of more than 100 years, the American bison runs again in the Coahuila plains.
• AES Mexico and CEMEX, together with the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN), the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), and the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) through the General Wildlife Direction, reintroduce 19 American bison specimens to El Carmen Nature Reserve.
• The project’s success celebrates World Wildlife Day with the second conservation herd of this species in Mexico.

CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (“CEMEX”) (NYSE: CX) together with AES Mexico, the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature (FMCN), the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) through the General Wildlife Direction, and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), announced today the successful reintroduction of 19 American bison specimens (Bison bison) in El Carmen Nature Reserve, in Coahuila, to establish the second conservation herd of this species in Mexico.

El Carmen Nature Reserve is a private cross-border conservation area in Mexico and the United States that contains five different ecosystems and habitats to diverse species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians over more than 140,000 hectares. It is one of the five largest wildlife areas in the world, and within its main objectives, is the recovery of native fauna through the management and protection of populations and their habitats, as well as the reintroduction of extinct species in the region.

Renée González, General Director of FMCN, declared, “This is a great achievement for the conservation of threatened species, thanks to the close alliances forged between the government, civil society and the private sector. With this new pack, we reinforce the importance of Mexico to protect an emblematic species for North America.”

José Arosa, General Director of AES Mexico, commented, “In AES, we are interested in supporting projects that have the objective of preserving the biodiversity of Mexico and raising awareness about its importance. As part of our commitment to the country, we will continue to join forces to trigger these conservation initiatives, which connect us with a vision for the future and call us to global cooperation to achieve societies with more opportunities in harmony with the environment.”

Vicente Saisó, Director of Sustainability of CEMEX, said, “For almost two decades, we have carried out different alliances with companies and conservation organizations to protect and increase biodiversity in El Carmen. Examples of this include the reintroduction of the American bison, the bighorn sheep, and the pronghorn, as well as the increase in the populations of desert mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black bear.”

Roberto Aviña Carlín, National Commissioner of CONANP, said, “The establishment of bison herds in Mexico contributes significantly to the recovery of the species on an continental scale and is a case of success in the recovery of endangered species through the narrow collaboration of civil society organizations, academia, private sector and national and international government instances.”

The American bison is the largest land mammal on the continent and was present in the plains of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In Mexico, American bison lived in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Durango; however, it was excised in the second half of the 19^th century. Currently, it is a species that is in danger of extinction in Mexico. The recovery of their populations in the north of the country is key since it seeks to restore the grasslands native to the region.

Prior to this collaboration, the only herd of bison considered genetically pure was at Rancho El Uno, owned by FMCN, located within the Janos Biosphere Reserve, Chihuahua. Of this herd, 19 specimens were translocated to El Carmen, located in Maderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area by a team of wildlife management specialists. The specimens were selected with the technical support of the General Wildlife Direction of SEMARNAT. This plan to reintroduce the American bison in El Carmen Nature Reserve was launched in April of 2019, and it will continue in the next two years with the translocation of additional specimens, which will gradually consolidate and grow the Bisons’ population in a sustainable way.

Please visit https://youtu.be/UpZMhCqgxL4 to see the bison in their new home.

Rancho El Uno, a property that covers 18,500 hectares, was donated to FMCN by The Nature Conservancy in 2018, with the mandate to ensure the conservation of its natural capital in perpetuity. In 2009, in collaboration with a binational alliance to reintroduce iconic native species to Mexico, 23 specimens of bison were transferred from Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, United States, to Rancho El Uno. The objective of the reintroduction of bison to their native grassland was restoring its ecological role in the area and reestablishing the natural cycles of the ecosystem degraded for decades due to improper management. The reintroduction of this cultural and historical symbol has been a source of pride for the inhabitants of the region.

About AES Mexico
AES Mexico is a subsidiary of the AES Corporation (a Fortune 500 company), which works on energy generation to provide sustainable solutions to the country’s energy challenges. AES Mexico has a broad portfolio of energy solutions that cover traditional generation methods, as well as new technologies such as energy storage, wind and solar energy. AES Mexico has a commitment to guarantee excellence in all its operations and improve lives by accelerating a safer and more sustainable energy future. For more information, please visit: www.aesmex.com

About the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of Nature
FMCN, a private, non-profit institution created in 1994, collaborates with other actors and sectors in strategic technical and financial support to conserve Mexico’s natural heritage. Through the mobilization of financial resources, the creation of alliances, capacity building, learning, social awareness and knowledge generation, it seeks to conserve and make sustainable use of natural resources. FMCN is one of the largest and most effective environmental funds in Latin America. It works closely with civil society, government agencies and the private sector. For more information, please visit: https://fmcn.org/

About CEMEX
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable services. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the wellbeing of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future. For more information on CEMEX, please visit: www.cemex.com

About the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas
CONANP is a government public institution that works to conserve the natural heritage of Mexico and the ecological processes of 182 Natural Protected Areas (ANP), combining conservation goals with those of the wellbeing of the inhabitants and their users. For more than 19 years, CONANP has promoted and strengthened multiple initiatives for the conservation and sustainable management of our biodiversity. For more information, please visit: www.gob.mx/conanp

CEMEX assumes no obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release. CEMEX is not responsible for the content of any third-party website or webpage referenced to or accessible through this press release.