HSBC, World Wildlife Fund, BGCI and Earthwatch Investing in Nature; Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Florida Everglades, and Rio Grande to Benefit

Business Wire, Feb 21, 2002

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2002

HSBC Group, one of the world's largest financial services organizations, is creating a five year, $50 million eco-partnership, Investing in Nature, to fund conservation projects around the world including several in the United States. This partnership will significantly augment the contributions already made by HSBC Bank USA to various environmental groups for projects in New York State.

By making its largest-ever single donations to three charities, World Wildlife Fund, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and Earthwatch, the new Investing in Nature program will:

- Protect some of the world's major rivers, preserving extraordinary
biodiversity and benefiting millions of people;

- Help save 20,000 rare plant species from extinction;

- Train 200 scientists and send 2,000 staff to work on vital conservation
research projects worldwide.

"Companies as well as individuals have a responsibility for the stewardship of this planet, which we hold in trust for the future," said HSBC Chairman Sir John Bond, at the launch of Investing in Nature today in London. "If we don't act now, by 2025 over 60 percent of the world's population could face a water shortage. We are also facing a global extinction crisis with thousands of species and habitats under threat.

"With WWF, BGCI and Earthwatch, Investing in Nature will breathe new life into rivers, protect endangered species, and fund conservation research and education around the world. Our investment is not simply financial -- 2,000 staff will take part in fieldwork and become environmental champions within the Group."

"Investing in Nature represents a significant and exciting investment in our environment and our communities," said Linda Styker-Luftig, SeniorVice President, Group Public Affairs, HSBC Bank USA, and President of HSBC in the Community (USA), HSBC Bank USA's foundation. "No matter where in the world we live, we all feel the impact, to one extent or another, of the environmental issues that these conservation projects address."

Over five years, the partnership will:

Resuscitate some of the world's major river basins and grasslands

With HSBC's $18.4 million funding, WWF will protect 5 million acres of river basin habitats in the Rio Grande in the United States, Amazon in Brazil, the Yangtze in China, returning the natural flow of rivers, protecting fish and other freshwater species, and securing fresh drinking water for millions. A special two-year component will also focus on restoring the Florida Everglades and ensuring that state and federal agencies fully implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

Helping to halt global plant extinction

A $11.6 million donation to Botanic Gardens Conservation International will fund a living gene bank in botanical gardens around the world to protect 20,000 endangered plant species. BGCI will also raise public awareness of the value of plants through its 500 member gardens in 111 countries, and will revitalise conservation in 16 major gardens in India, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina and the Middle East. BGCI member organization, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden will coordinate initiatives in the United States.

Deliver a `century' of environmental research

Some 2,000 HSBC staff will work alongside Earthwatch scientists on conservation projects worldwide, yielding the equivalent of 100 `man years' of critical research. This will create a network of environmental ambassadors in the Group, who will be given grants for local conservation projects when they return to their communities. The $16 million donation will also be used to train 200 young scientists around the world.

"WWF believes that, globally, freshwater is a critical environmental issue with perhaps the greatest risk of conflict between peoples. At least one billion of the world's poorest people don't have access to safe drinking water. We want to help turn this around, and with HSBC's support we can embark on a major new programme to stem the decline in four of the world's key freshwater systems," said Garo Batmanian, Chief Executive of WWF Brazil.

Judith Zuk, Secretary-Treasurer of the board of BGCI (US) and President, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, said, "Botanic gardens are like a `Noah's Ark' for endangered plant life. In partnership with HSBC, BGCI will help botanic gardens fill this ark with the world's rarest and most threatened plants, helping to reverse the current extinction crisis and protecting the world's greatest natural resources for the future. This unprecedented project will enable US botanic gardens to partner with our colleagues around the world, to raise international awareness of the value of plants, and the threats that they face, in a way never before attempted."

Roger Bergen, President and CEO, Earthwatch Institute International said: "This donation provides the people and the funds to help us continue our long-term support of environmental field research, while providing a unique opportunity for HSBC employees to get directly involved in conservation issues. We are delighted that HSBC is making such a significant environmental investment and believe that this program will demonstrate the positive impacts of corporate and NGO partnerships in contributing to a sustainable future for our planet."