HSBC employee heads to distant shores to invest in nature

HSBC employee heads to distant shores to invest in nature

HSBC employee, Christopher Jonas from Surrey, is heading to Peru to take part in two weeks of wildlife conservation. His expedition is part of Investing in Nature, a £11 million, five-year eco-partnership between HSBC and environmental charity, Earthwatch.

Christopher, Project Manager, will leave his London desk to help Earthwatch scientists collect data on the fascinating, but endangered, macaws in the Neotropical forests of Peru, and study the impact poaching, forest clearance and eco-tourism has on them.

Christopher will travel by boat and foot, under the cover of the forest canopy, to monitor the scarlet, blue and gold, and red and green macaw's reaction to visiting tourists. He will also spend time in the forest's observation towers recording vital data about the bird's parental behaviour and nesting status. All the research collected will used by conservation managers and ecotourism operators to help save these magnificent birds from extinction.

Christopher said, 'I am sure that it will be a fantastic and rewarding experience to play such an active role in wildlife conservation. Working in the rainforests of Peru will be incredible and I hope to gain specific knowledge while learning more about the environmental hazards facing the area.'

Christopher is just one of 500 HSBC Environmental Fellows who will work on conservation projects ranging from Australia's Vanishing Frogs to the Blue Swallows of South Africa in 2004. By 2006, 2,000 employees will have contributed the equivalent of a century of environmental research. These Environmental Fellows will also be eligible for a grant of up to £400 to initiate a local environmental project on their return home.

Frank Vorhies, Chief Executive of Earthwatch Institute (Europe), said, 'The first two years of the Investing in Nature partnership have been extremely successful. Over 500 HSBC employees have joined Earthwatch projects across the globe, contributing over 25 years of vital environmental research. This year Christopher will be among another 500 employees that will have the unique opportunity to get directly involved in environmental research.'

Richard Spence, General Manager Southern Division, said, 'The Investing in Nature partnership has come a fair way over the past two years. This partnership has raised the level of awareness of environmental issues at all levels in HSBC and been an entirely beneficial experience. Already we have introduced an environmental reporting system in our main markets which is now being extended to rest of the Group.'

Investing in Nature is a partnership between HSBC, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Earthwatch and WWF. It is the largest ever-single donation to environmental charities and is well on the way to meeting its five-year targets.