Environmental challenges, brought about by harsh climate change factors and rapid economic development, confront the human race.

As a responsible corporate citizen, Mercedes-Benz always calls upon ourselves to maintain a harmonious balance between technological progress and nature protection. The launch of the Green Legacy Program in 2007 demonstrates our sustained long-term commitment towards the protection of the our finest and most treasured nature heritage sites in China.

Under the Green Legacy Program, Mercedes-Benz will contribute to safeguarding natural heritage sites over the period of three years. Mercedes-Benz is one of UNESCO's key partners in World Natural Heritage Site preservation work in China and also the first automaker to pledge long-term support towards this cause.

Mercedes-Benz has pledged a total of RMB 10 million towards the protection of natural heritage sites in China – the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, South China Karsts as well as heritage sites damaged by the Sichuan earthquake. In partnership with UNESCO and local authorities, the donation will be channeled towards strengthening the overall conservation and management capabilities of these sites.

After the Sichuan earthquake this year, Mercedes-Benz contributed an additional RMB 3.5 million from the Green Legacy Fund to repair and restore the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries as well as the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Mount Qingcheng. As part of the Green Legacy Program launched last September, the Fund was initiated by Mercedes-Benz and its dealers across China to help preserve world heritage sites in China.

Mercedes-Benz has internally launched a "Protect Nature – It Starts with Me" initiative, calling upon its employees to actively participate in environmental protection causes.