We support local biodiversity conservation projects in Portugal, Poland and Colombia, the three countries where we have our largest operations. In the development and selection of projects, we give preference to projects better aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Protocol. We also encourage collaboration with local associations and non-governmental organisations specialising in these areas, thus ensuring an appropriate level of knowledge and proximity to local communities. We also invest in education and awareness campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of healthy ecosystems and encourage the adoption of more sustainable practices.
In 2024, we invested over 327,000 euros to support 11 projects (7 in Portugal, 2 in Poland and 2 in Colombia) focused on restoring natural habitats, protecting biodiversity and raising environmental awareness. With regard to the initiatives featured in the table below, we also use the IBAT Alliance tool to assess proximity to protected areas, key biodiversity areas and the conservation risk of species that live near them (assessed in accordance with the IUCN. This assessment complements our monitoring of the progress of these projects.
Institution |
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Project |
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Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Associação Floresta Serra do Açor |
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Reforestation of the Serra do Açor Mountain |
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Project launched in 2020 by the Jerónimo Martins Group, in partnership with the Arganil Town Council, the Coimbra School of Agriculture and the common landowners’ associations, to preserve and enhance the landscape devastated by the forest fires of 2017. It involves the reforestation of an area spanning 2,500 hectares over a 40-year period. The project is implemented in the protected landscape area of the Serra do Açor mountain range and is close to the Lousã mountain range, a protected area part of the Natura 2000 network. Almost one million trees have been planted since the beginning of the project. |
ANP – WWF |
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Green Heart of Cork |
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Started in 2011, developed and coordinated by ANP | WWF and supported by the Group, this project promotes the conservation of Portuguese cork oak forests and payment for the environmental services they provide. This initiative establishes a platform linking companies to the conservation of cork oak forests and related ecosystem services. In 2024, the Jerónimo Martins Group contributed to the conservation of 803.47 hectares of high conservation value forests, promoting responsible forest management certification and the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The landowners involved in the project apply good forest management practices in approximately 45,000 hectares of FSC® certified areas, 30,000 hectares of which obtained certification after our support began. |
Salamandra – Polish Society for Nature Conservation |
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Support for wild-insect pollinators |
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Project supporting wild-insect pollinators, created as a result of a partnership that began in 2021 between Biedronka and Salamandra (the Polish Society for Nature Conservation). The 2024 initiatives include (i) the “Biedronka with Salamandra for wild-insect pollinators in natural gardens” grant competition; (ii) education and the promotion of wild-insect pollinators and their protection through the publication of an issue of Salamandra Nature Magazine and communication actions on social media; and (iii) the start of work to create the Polish Red List of species. |
Clean Poland Association (Stowarzyszenie Czysta Polska) |
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Clean Tatra Mountains |
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Project supported since 2019 by Biedronka to clean up the Tatra Mountains and led by the NGO Clean Poland Association. The 2024 edition was held under the slogan “Heads up!”, during which an eco-town was set up for two days in Zakopane, where educational activities took place, some of them led by Biedronka. A total of 2,075 volunteers took part in the campaign, collecting 248 kg of waste on the mountain trails. The first ‘Clean 5 run’ was also held in Zakopane, with 200 trees planted, one per runner. |
Fundabejaz |
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Protection of bees |
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Started in 2021, supported by Ara, for the protection and conservation of bees and raising awareness of their importance in ecosystems. During 2024, the Fundabejaz Foundation successfully: (i) rescued 50 hives; (ii) delivered 24 recovered hives to beekeepers and farmers; and (iii) carried out 91 awareness-raising campaigns involving 6,420 participants. Ara also donates sugar as a food source for rescued swarms. |
Loros Foundation |
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Save the Macaws |
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Project started in Colombia in 2024 to protect macaws. It involves the rehabilitation and subsequent release of birds seized or voluntarily turned over by the environmental authorities to the Loros Foundation. |