Peugeot reforestation project in 10th year

When Peugeot decided to undertake a vast scientific and ecological sponsorship campaign by financing an innovative 40-year reforestation project in Amazonia, it was the autumn of 1998, shortly after the signature of the Kyoto protocol.

Shortly afterwards Peugeot and PSA Group introduced an engine representing a technological breakthrough, the Common Rail HDi diesel engine with a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, and a 50 per cent reduction in regulated pollutant emissions at source.

It became the most advanced-technology diesel engine and has sold extensively throughout the world. In 1999, a diesel particulate filter system was introduced as standard fit on the Peugeot 607. Since then new developments of the engine have continued and now all Peugeot engines benefit from advanced technology and ever lower CO2 emissions.

The National Forestry Board, managing over 11 million public forests in metropolitan France and the French overseas 'departments', has been campaigning for several years now for greater recognition of the role and potential contribution of forests to the efforts to prevent climate warming.

This fertile collaboration between Peugeot and one of the largest public forest managers in the world was the source of this project and the human adventure it entailed, which are the subject of the present special anniversary report produced for the ninth meeting of the Peugeot ONF Carbon Sink Scientific Advisory Committee in Paris.