For Release: Thursday, November 13, 2014
Guangde Proving Ground is the first facility in China to earn recognition
SHANGHAI – General Motors has been recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council for creating a wildlife habitat and enhancing biodiversity at its Guangde Proving
Ground in Anhui province, China. GM is the first company in China to earn certification from the international nonprofit for its habitat program.
The Wildlife Habitat Council’s Wildlife at Work program provides a structure for corporate-driven cooperative efforts among management, employees and community members to create, conserve, and restore wildlife habitats on corporate lands.
The Guangde Proving Ground, opened by GM, SAIC, Shanghai GM and PATAC on
September 22, 2012, is the largest automotive proving ground in China. During construction of the site, the company made sure it did not damage or change the original ecology of the environment. The vegetation was preserved and local plants, fruit trees and shrubbery were used to build the most suitable environment for local animals, birds and insects.
Currently, approximately 1.34 of the property’s 5.67 square kilometers are actively managed as a wildlife habitat. Since 2012, employees have planted 5,025 plants and seed mixes comprising 92 different species throughout the site.
One of the site’s most notable wildlife features is the 2,500-square-meter garden designed to benefit pollinators, which have been in rapid decline worldwide.
Pollinators such as insects and butterflies carry materials to pollinate flowers.
The stewardship team constructed seven stations throughout the garden to monitor bees and butterflies visiting the garden and track their growing populations on the site.
Pollinators are critical to the production of various foods, beverages, fibers, spices and medicines around the world. They are responsible for the reproduction of 90 percent of flowering plants and one third of human food crops worldwide.
Other enhancements include a reservoir to collect clean outflow from water treatment, which reduces potential burden on nearby rivers.
“Our habitat program provides an opportunity for our employees who love nature to give back and help us enhance our growing populations of wildlife and native

plantings,” said Pan Yaozeng, Director of Guangde Proving Ground. “It also serves as an outdoor classroom to educate our youth on the importance of conservation.”
For the past two years, a group of 14 employees at Guangde Proving Ground have been regularly tracking the diversity of plant species and monitoring exotic invasive species. The facility has also hosted students and educators from local schools quarterly in an effort to teach them about native plants and the benefits pollinators have on the ecosystem.
Guangde Proving Ground is one of 40 GM sites around the world with conservation programs certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council — more than any other automaker. The company actively manages nearly 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat globally, representing more than 22 percent of the certified sites’ overall footprint.
“GM truly understands the importance of establishing strategic corporate goals and objectives with Wildlife Habitat Council and working to translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions,” said Margaret O’Gorman, Wildlife Habitat
Council President.
GM believes our natural resources have business value and works to protect them.
These wildlife habitats also enable employees to take part in conservation efforts and help strengthen community ties. The company is committed to increasing native biodiversity at its facilities globally and certifying each of its manufacturing sites where feasible by 2020.
GM is also committed to wildlife conservation and environmental education throughout its operations in China. In 2012, GM China launched the GM Restoring
Nature’s Habitat Project , a three-year program to improve ecology, protect biodiversity and educate the public on the importance of preserving the environment.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastestgrowing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and
Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com/ .
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CONTACTS:
Jia You
GM China Communications
(+86-10) 5924-2612 jia.you@gm.com

Sylvia Yang
GM China Communications
(+86-10) 5924-2508 sylvia.yang@gm.com