MPA and Bumblebee Conservation Trust renew MoU

The UK’s Mineral Products Association (MPA) and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) have renewed the memorandum of understanding that they originally signed in 2012.

In line with the MoU, the MPA and BBCT will continue to work together to help facilitate access to quarry sites for monitoring purposes and to advise and educate staff on measures to help bees. This includes creating suitable habitats and training quarry staff to recognise and survey their sites for bees. The two organisations will also raise each other’s profiles and highlight their mutual objectives.

“I’m delighted with our work together to date and look forward to continuing this into the future,” said Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive of the MPA. “Bees are under threat and we want to do what we can to support them and the vital role they play in maintaining ecosystems services. Active and restored industry sites can provide homes for bees and, as an industry, we are keen to use our unique position as managers and restorers of land to help contribute to biodiversity enhancement. We have a long legacy of high quality restoration and we look forward to productive collaboration with the BBCT.”

“Bumblebees are a crucial part of the UK's ecosystem and our natural heritage so it's alarming to see how numbers have been declining in recent years,” added Gill Perkins, BBCT Conservation Manager. “The partnership with MPA means we will be able to continue our work with quarries, ensuring that the UK's bumblebees have the habitat they need in order to survive. By working with MPA members to increase the availability of habitat for bumblebees, BBCT hopes to begin a reversal in the recent fortunes of these important insects.”

Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/22012015/mpa-and-bbct-renew-memorandum-of-understanding-189/