CEMEX And RSPB celebrate 10 year biodiversity partnership

The relationship prioritised the conservation of rare and endangered species on CEMEX land. Biodiversity action plans (BAPs) are now in place at high priority CEMEX sites, with new projects being started at other quarries. These BAPs incorporate actions that improve ecosystem services and create space for rewilding, presenting opportunities to work alongside NGOs to develop species-rich habitats.

Alongside the 1000 ha. of restored habitat, other achievements of the partnership so far have included work at four central England sites to create a habitat and a sustainable food source for the turtle dove, which is the country’s fastest-declining bird species.

Some of their restoration projects have received significant praise, such as the Rugeley heathland and Lade Pits quarry in Kent.

CEMEX will continue to work closely with the RSPB towards a series of further targets for priority species conservation and priority habitat creation. The company will also work on improved engagement and awareness with employees, customers and communities.

Andy Spencer, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Sustainability & ERM for CEMEX Europe, said, “We are very proud of our partnership with the RSPB, and what has been achieved over the last 10 years. Not only have we restored a considerable amount of priority habitat across the country together, two years ahead of schedule, but we have also helped a number of rare species.”

Spencer added, “Conservation is one of the key parts of our ongoing sustainability strategy and this partnership is critical for us to deliver ongoing net gain in biodiversity across our extraction sites, so when we complete our work, we are giving more back to society and the environment than was there to start with. In the future, the partnership needs to continue to deliver high quality, high priority habitats to help combat the decline in biodiversity that we’ve seen in the UK, as well as strengthen our partnership into ongoing advocacy and supporting each other to achieve our common goals. We are excited to see what we can achieve together over the next 10 years!”

Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the RSPB, commented, “Through working in partnership with CEMEX, we have shown how land can be transformed from being an active quarry into a vibrant home for wildlife, and we hope that our experience inspires others to play their part in restoring nature. Our natural world is in crisis, but by restoring or creating habitats we can often reverse local population declines of threatened species, keeping our common species common, and expanding the number of safe havens our wildlife needs across the UK.”

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/28112019/cemex-and-rspb-celebrate-10-year-biodiversity-partnership/