2024 ESG Report FINAL - Report - Page 30
2023 Biodiversity and Conservation Initiatives
The following programs and projects are part of our biodiversity initiatives beyond the company's business
activities. We prioritize the needs of local nonpro昀椀ts and other community stakeholders when selecting biodiversity
projects and value these opportunities to engage with our neighbors.
Nature-Based Carbon Capture Programs:
• Plant giveaway at Corpus Christi Re昀椀neries: Since 2022, Valero
has sponsored the annual Earth Day-Bay Day plant giveaway
event where Valero volunteers have distributed a total of
approximately 6,400 native trees and plants to the Coastal
Bend community.
• BCarbon: Valero has supported BCarbon, a nonpro昀椀t nature-
Valero volunteers contributed to
the restoration efforts by planting
native bald cypress, water tupelo,
and green ash trees in the LaBranche
wetlands along Lake Pontchartrain.
based carbon dioxide capture and storage registry, to continue
research and development of BCarbon's living shoreline project
in the Texas Gulf Coast, consisting of oyster reef breakwater
systems. These natural bank barriers help to restore shoreline
habitat, reduce erosion, improve water quality and enhance
昀椀sh and wildlife habitat.
• Pontchartrain Conservancy: Valero continued its partnership
with the Pontchartrain Conservancy committing $1 million in
support of the 昀椀ve-year reforestation project. In 2023, Valero St.
Charles employees planted a total of 1,000 trees that consisted
of bald cypress, green ash and water tupelo during two
volunteer events. To date, over 52.5 acres have been restored
with over 5,300 trees planted across multiple sites in and
around St. Charles and St. Bernard Parishes.
Valero's commitment to environmental
stewardship was recognized with the
Wildlife Habitat Council's Conservation
Certi昀椀cation for the marsh reforestation
project in a partnership with the
Pontchartrain Conservancy.
Valero volunteers planted native
and resilient tree species to
promote urban greening at Valero's
Montreal East terminal site in Canada.
30
• Tree Planting at Valero Montreal East Terminal: In
collaboration with the Société de Verdissement du Montréal
Métropolitain, an organization that develops green space
strategies in urban environments, Valero volunteers planted
approximately 750 trees, including more than 20 species
of native trees and shrubs well-suited to thrive in urban
conditions. Soil characterization was performed to ensure
quality and structure to create a resilient dense forest that can
stand up to the stress of an urban environment for generations
to come.
