Biodiversity success for CEMEX

Company receives recognition for outstanding contributions to biodiversity in UEPG awards

TWO CEMEX quarries, Rugeley in the UK and Soto Pajares in Spain, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to biodiversity at the European Aggregates Association (UEPG) awards in Brussels on 27 November.

Rugeley Quarry in Cannock Chase, West Midlands, received a Recognition of Achievement for its significant restoration work and excellent habitat-management activities.

Rugeley Quarry was the first ever winner of the Natural England Biodiversity Award, awarded by the Mineral Products Association, for its work in restoring 80ha of high-quality wildlife habitat to lowland dry heathland, complementing the adjoining Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation. The restored area offers a home to heathland wildlife such as nightjars, Dartford warblers and wood larks.

Soto Pajares Quarry, in the province of Madrid, won the Special Award for Biodiversity for its outstanding actions related to the protection, enhancement and creation of key habitats for important species.

Both projects have been progressed and developed by CEMEX in close collaboration with SEO/BirdLife and the RSPB, the respective BirdLife International partners in Spain and the UK.

In addition, CEMEX France also received a Recognition of Achievement for one of their projects, due to its remarkable economic contribution and added value to society.

The UEPG Awards emphasize CEMEX’s commitment throughout their global operations to conservation and sustainable management of the land after mineral extraction.

‘A central part of CEMEX’s business strategy is to integrate biodiversity throughout the company’s operations, seeking to create environmental conditions similar to or better than those that were present at the very beginning of the quarry’s life cycle,’ said Luis Farias, CEMEX’s senior vice-president of energy and sustainability. ‘Our partnership with BirdLife International plays a significant role in this.’