In recent years, thanks to the efforts made by CEMEX and other organizations that share with us the commitment to promote biodiversity protection, it has been possible to define new, innovative environmental strategies and policies for curbing the deterioration of hotspots, Earth's most endangered terrestrial ecoregions.

The hotspots concept was developed in 1988 by British ecologist Norman Myers; since then, it has been supported by organizations such as Conservation International. The dissemination and impact of this concept were widened in 1999, with the presentation of our book Hotspots. Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions, the second volume in a series of works published jointly with Conservation International and Agrupación Sierra Madre.

The scientific information gathered to date has made it possible to identify new areas of great ecological importance to be included within the hotspots classification, as well as to obtain relevant data on zones that had originally formed part of this category. Thus, we have been able to make progress in what definitely should be considered a global priority: the conservation of biotic resources. In the diversity of life-forms we find the very possibility of maintaining the wide range of alternatives for achieving sustainable development.

Convinced that the goal of ensuring a living planet requires a foresighted strategy along with collective, coordinated efforts, at CEMEX we are very proud to work once again with Conservation International and Agrupación Sierra Madre, presenting this new book, Hotspots Revisited.

On the pages of this volume, you will find clearly stated the ways and spaces in which we should focus our attention and resources in order to achieve the survival of the greatest possible number of species and ecosystems. Included among the new terrestrial ecoregions considered as hotspots is the Sierra Madre Oriental and Occidental of Mexico. Located there is El Carmen, a project of wide scope that CEMEX has promoted for five years now for the purpose of having a direct bearing on its conservation.

We hope that the enhancement of the hotspots concept and the strategies proposed in this new book will contribute towards thinking on a world scale and acting on a local one so as to successfully meet the challenge posed by biodiversity conservation.

As a worldwide enterprise fully committed to promoting sustainable development, at CEMEX we are confident that the resources devoted today to this goal will entail the best possible investment for ensuring the permanence of biodiversity on our planet.

CEMEX

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