Mogi das Cruzes

About the Program
In their Mogi das Cruzes site east of São Paulo, Brazil, General Motors (GM) employees are working to conserve and protect native species while working with local schools to increase environmental awareness. Their main conservation objectives include enhancing habitats that benefit birds, monitoring bird species, increasing environmental awareness and sharing sustainable initiatives with employees and the local community. This last objective includes activities for schoolchildren, scouts and employees about water and the importance of trees and pollinators.

Practices and Impacts

• The team maintains an on-site garden to provide foraging, nesting and habitat for resident and migratory birds. Employees have observed and recorded multiple species like the fork-tailed flycatcher, chalk-browed mockingbird and canary of the woods.
• The team maintains an insect hotel and provide a variety of native and exotic plants to attract pollinators. Students also participated in virtual education opportunities and drew insect hotel designs that led to the construction of two new hotels in 2021 and one in 2022.
• Employees record pollinator species on the office grounds. They document the names of species, date(s) spotted and whether the species is native.
• In the years 2021 and 2022, in celebration of  Tree Day, species of yellow ipês were planted — which, in addition to being representative of the Tree Day event, also contribute to the pollinators project. The education project focused on the types of biogeochemical cycles and carbon reduction as it relates to trees.
• From 2015 to 2022, an environmental education program was held with students from public schools in Mogi das Cruzes. Environmental lectures with themes regarding sustainability, nature preservation, waste segregation, natural resources conservation and green fields preservation were presented.
• The Cross Functional Team was educated and trained in biodiversity and sustainability projects on-site, which enables these employees to actively participate in projects.
• The team welcomed a scout group who learned the importance of biodiversity and the different species that exists, and the difference between the biomes. During the hands-on activity, they participated in tree species identification activities.
• The team hosted six regional awareness lectures for employees, family and friends. The lectures are held online and live, addressing issues of sustainability and the environment, using examples of local habitats and projects.