Group guideline for the promotion of biodiversity - Business and ...

Contents1 Preface 32 Introduction 42.1 Biodiversity through TargetedManagement 42.2 Availability and Goals of this Guideline 53 HeidelbergCement and Biodiversity 63.1 The Impact of Mineral Extraction Siteson Biodiversity 63.2 Principles for the Promotion ofBiodiversity 113.2.1 Encouraging Dialogue 113.2.2 Increasing Biodiversity 113.2.3 Protecting Nature and Environment 113.3 Biodiversity Ambitions 123.3.1 Ambitions 2009 123.3.2 Ambitions 2010 123.3.3 Ambitions 2012 123.3.4 Ambitions 2020 124.3 Best Practice for Project andRestoration Planning 165 Management Measures in OperatingExtraction Sites 176 Indicators for Measuring andControlling Biodiversity 196.1 Biodiversity – A Core Topic forHeidelbergCement 196.2 Indicator Systems 206.2.1 HeidelbergCement Indicators 206.2.2 Global Reporting Initiative 226.2.3 Cement Sustainability Initiative 227 Stakeholder Dialogue 238 Bibliography 249 Glossary 2624 After-use 134.1 Foundations 134.2 Definitions 13

1PrefaceThe principle of sustainability is deep-seated inthe company strategy of HeidelbergCement. Weprovide a safe and healthy work environment forour employees and take on responsibility at all ourlocations worldwide. We understand sustainabilityto be a constant effort for improvements in thefield of nature and environment protection. We doour best to keep the impact on the environment aslow as possible through good management at ourlocations.This Group guideline manifests the basic parametersfor the promotion of biodiversity at our mineralextraction sites. This guideline aims at definingcon sistent standards for restoration and renaturation.These standards are to be deployed in all ourbusiness lines. Every after-use plan will take intoaccount the economic, ecological and social needsof the respective community. All intended formsof after-use will support the preservation of speciesdiversity and contribute to raising the variety ofplants and animals wherever possible.When extracting minerals, we change the landscapeand make use of mineral resources which havedeveloped over millions of years. Only if we manageto safeguard these resources and handle them carefully,we will be able to meet our own demands andthose of future generations. We have set ourselvesthe goal of sustainable and long-term economicgrowth. We will contribute to this goal significantlyby implementing this Group guideline consistently.3The Managing Board

2Introduction2.1 Biodiversity through Targeted ManagementIn roughly 50 countries around the world, the nameHeidelbergCement stands for competence andquality. The international character of the companyimplies a worldwide responsibility for all of ouractivities. HeidelbergCement has a tradition of commitmentto sustainability, and builds on the threepillars: ecology, economy and social responsibility.Our sustainable management is centred aroundclients, employees, shareholders and local partnersat all locations.The quarries and gravel pits from which we extractour raw materials are valuable habitats for a varietyof animal and plant species. The dynamic nature ofquarrying attracts a wide range of rare species. Afteractivities there have ceased, our mineral extractionsites are professionally restored and returnedto a natural state, or prepared for agricultural useor forestry. Our emphasis on natural successionhas consistently increased over time, benefiting thedevelopment of broad biodiversity, adjusted to thenative habitat.Our ambition is to strategically promote and conservebiodiversity at our mineral extraction sitesworldwide. To meet this goal, HeidelbergCement isthe first company in the industry to adopt a Groupguideline for the promotion of biodiversity atmineral extraction sites. With immediate effect thisguideline will be valid at all our locations throughoutEurope. It is the basis for systematic implementationof consistent measures, as well as therealisation of our biodiversity ambitions.The core of the guideline comprises ten principlesgeared towards promoting dialogue with keystakeholders, as well as increasing biologicaldiversity during and after quarrying, in orderto protect the native landscape and ecology. Inaddition, the guideline defines ambitious targetsHeidelbergCement aims to successively achieveby 2020. It also sets out decisive principles formodern, professional restoration, which significantlycontribute to the promotion of biodiversity.4

2.2 Availability and Goals of this GuidelineThis guideline, as well as many good practice examplesas PDF-documents in the internet and intranetof HeidelbergCement, provides an all-embracingintroduction to the specific new orientation of thecompany regarding ”extraction sites and biologicaldiversity” for employees and the public. This guidelineis to be effective at our locations in Europe.Its worldwide implementation is currently beingprepared.For internal use there is an elaborate long versiondescribing the restoration of distinct habitats.The general advice in this guideline cannot beimplemen ted completely in each and every extractionsite. Thus it needs to be implemented usingconcerted action, taking mining needs as well aseconomic factors into account according to thespecific conditions on location.The future orientation of after-use planning is basedon the following goals:■■ This guideline aims at defining Group-wide globalminimum standards for the restoration of mineralextraction sites, encompassing cement and aggregatesas business lines.■■ All forms of after-use ought to contribute to thepreservation of biological diversity and to increasebiodiversity where possible. Furthermore, theyought to be sustainable, long-lasting and efficientlyusable for human beings.■■ The global goal of after-use planning for eachmineral extraction site is to reach a balancebetween economic, ecological and socialrequirements.■■ In order to take into account the distinctive bio-logical diversity features of the individual countriesand continents, the guideline will successivelybecome more detailed and will be adaptedto the specific demands of various geographicareas by 2010.Biodiversity isincreasingMineralextractionextraction are diminshedIndicators for measuringbiodiversityEffects of mineralBiodiversityAction Plans(BAP)Compensation needsare decreasingBiodiversity isincreasingAfter-useIndicators for measuringbiodiversity5

3HeidelbergCement and Biodiversity3.1 The Impact of Mineral Extraction Sites onBiodiversityNature and landscapes have become increasinglyexposed to a rapidly growing world populationand an increasing utilisation impact over the lastdecades. This has lead to a considerable and everincreasing loss of animal and plant species worldwideas habitats are either chopped up or lostcompletely. Mineral extraction sites in particular arefrequently regarded as destructive to the environmentand therefore still present a predominantlynegative image for the public and nature conservationorganisations and authorities. Despite massiveefforts of the industry to restore mineral extractionsites, the resentment remains unbroken to a largeextent and poses serious problems for the provisionof raw materials and future mineral extractionplanning.Scientific DataThis general disapproval is opposed by an understandingwhich has arisen since the end of the1970s, namely that mineral extraction sites whichhave been closed down may take on importantfunctions in the environment of intensely utilisedland cultivated by man. Closed down mineralextraction sites which have not been restored bytopsoil application, sowing and plantation, contributeto sustainably increase and safeguard biodiversityjust through the existence of habitats significantwithin a habitat network system. They also stabilisethe surrounding ecosystems. Closed down quarriescontain high numbers of species with a high shareof endangered animal and plant species. Variousmanifestations of habitat types appear meshedthere, many of which are endangered, rare orthreatened. This diversity is caused by long periodsof development hardly ever influenced or disturbedby man. Thus a great variety of locations and structureshave developed.Research in the last two decades has proven convincingly,with a broad specialist foundation, thatthis insight also applies to operating extraction sites.They are characterised by a high number of animaland plant species, many of which are endangered(Figure 1). The findings are frequently comparableor even higher than in most habitats of the surroundings.This is due to the extreme environmentalconditions in the extraction sites and their greathabitat conditions. Characteristic habitats are e. g.6Biological diversityBiological diversity – or biodiversity – is one of the keywords in natureconservation. It refers to the ”abundance of life and its manifold structures“(European Commission).The term biological diversity stands for more than the diversity of species,however. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),biodiversity encompasses■■ the diversity of species on earth (organism level),■■ genetic diversity (diversity of genes within a species),■■ diversity of habitats (ecosystem level).Figure 1: Young initial vegetation at quarrying level

ock faces (Figure 2), perennial bodies of water,temporary bodies of water as for instance in tracksand the refuse and spoil heaps (Figure 3, Figure 4).Figure 2: Colony of sand martins in old riverbed sediments in a steep face of an extraction siteComparison of the factors accounting for the natureconservation significance of closed down and operatingquarries:Operating quarrieshigh diversity of structures and locationsrare habitat conditions at the locationvery high numbers of speciesnumber of endangered species almost alwayshigher than that of most habitats in the surroundingsrare and endangered vegetation types, predominantlyprotosoil and pioneer locations7Figure 3: The areas are colonised quicklyClosed down quarrieshigh diversity of structures and locationsrare habitat conditions at the locationhigh numbers of speciesnumber of endangered species very high,partly higher than in the surroundingsrare and endangered vegetation types in variousformsFigure 4: Young body of water as habitat for specialised animals and plants

Figure 5: Variegated coexistence of wanderbiotopes close to ongoing extractionFigure 6: Near-natural rock faceFigure 7: Temporary water bodies at quarrying levelWanderbiotopesExtraction sites are very important for the protectionof species and habitats due to the variety of subhabitatsinterlocked at small-scale or the developmentareas for animals and plants of different ageswithin spatial and temporal interrelations (Figure 5).The combination of sometimes extreme contrastsin habitat conditions, which can hardly be foundor not be found at all in the surrounding cultivatedlandscape, have developed into a great structuralvariety that is a prerequisite for the establishment ofnumerous plant and animal species (Figure 6).The bare shallow temporary water bodies in thetracks of heavy duty lorries, which can appear withina very short time during the extraction process,are typical wanderbiotopes for amphibians such asthe yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) or thegreen toad (Bufo calamita) (Figure 7, Figure 8). Thelittle ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) likes to settleon almost bare spacious stone leas, pebble leas orprotosoil leas, but only during ongoing extractionand with temporary water bodies close by. Numerouscliff breeders such as the eagle owl (Bubo bubo)or the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) use thequarry faces for breeding as long as there are suitablealcoves and as long as the walls do not erodetoo quickly due to soft rock material such as marl.Whenever the mining works move away from afreshly carved out quarry face, the birds settle fairlyquickly, if the structure is suitable. They may evenhatch only a few dozen metres away from ongoingextraction works.The differences in flora are similarly obvious. Wetlandhabitats and topsoil or spoil dumps are specious-richwanderbiotopes for many plant speciesand are settled very quickly (Figure 9, Figure 10),while dry or temporarily dry clay habitats need more8

Figure 8: Temporary body of water – photographed in 1992time until they become settled to a relevant extentdue to the more extreme habitat conditions(Figure 11, Figure 12).The extraction sites are characterised by pronounceddynamics. A comparison of old photographsto the current state proves how fast thesepresumably nutrient-poor protosoil locations aresettled by specialised species (Figure 8, Figure 9).Modern extraction planning regards these results asan opportunity for new restoration and renaturationconcepts. Dynamic processes get integrated andthe after-use is adapted accordingly. Existing speciespopulations are taken into account and habitats areoptimised. The following chapters provide directionson how the various interests for the after-use canbe balanced, while biodiversity is promoted at thesame time.9Further ReadingDav i s (1977; 1979; 1981a; b); Tr ä n k l e 1997; 2000;Bö h m e r & Ra h m a n n (1997); Gi lc h e r & Br u n s 1999;Rademacher (2001); BDZ/VDZ (2001; 2003).Figure 9: The same body of water in 2006WanderbiotopesSpatial changes within the extraction areas may create areas predestined for the development of animalsand plants. They are of various ages, show different structures and are closely connected to one another(succession zones). Whenever minerals are extracted once again from one of these areas, a substitute hasalready developed elsewhere. These habitats thus ”wander“, as the plants and animals wander from oneend of the extraction site to the other. These succession zones which are continually renewed are calledwanderbiotopes.

Figure 10: Settlement of a sedimentation basin10Figure 12: Succession areas on spoil dumpsFigure 8: Initial reeds in wetland areaFigure 11: Near-naturally settled belay

3.2 Principles for the Promotion of Biodiversity3.2.1 Encouraging Dialogue■■ HeidelbergCement promotes the increase ofbiodiversity in the planning and implementationof restoration through a structured approach, indialogue with all stakeholders.■■ The forms of after-use are to be discussed withenvironmental authorities, nature conservationorganisations and other interested parties.3.2.2 Increasing Biodiversity■■ Each mineral extraction site should maximise theland area with ecological value.■■ The ecological and economic value of land afteruseneed to be fully considered as they both canforward the promotion of biodiversity.■■ The planning and implementation of subsequentafter-use will be carried out by specialists.■■ HeidelbergCement promotes a high degree ofbiodiversity even in working quarries. Areas temporarilyout of use should be managed to maximiseecological benefit.■■ Certain areas of each quarry should be left todevelop naturally.3.2.3 Protecting Nature and Environment■■ Indigenous and regionally typical plant specieswill be favoured.■■ It is imperative to protect the topsoil and subsoil.Soil resources need to be safeguarded, protectedfrom erosion and to be either reused as soon aspossible on restoration areas or to be stored for atransitional period to avoid damage or loss.■■ Ground water and surface water must not becontaminated either during work or after-use.11

3.3 Biodiversity Ambitions3.3.1 Ambitions 2009■■ This guideline will be further developed using aninternal adjustment process in all points necessaryand it will be made tangible on country orcontinental level.■■ A compilation of other current or recentbest practice projects of the company will beaccomplished.■■ Further mineral extraction sites will be includedinto the monitoring system for biodiversity inconsideration of action plans.in the monitoring system for biodiversity in considerationof action plans.■■ The percentage of mineral extraction sites withan effective restoration plan will be increased to85 %.3.3.3 Ambitions 2012■■ The percentage of mineral extraction sites withan effective restoration plan will be increased to90 %.■■ Further mineral extraction sites will be includedin the monitoring system for biodiversity in considerationof action plans.123.3.2 Ambitions 2010■■ The final version of this guideline will be available.■■ The implementation will begin on country level,for instance through training courses and theprovision of training materials.■■ Integration of the guideline into the environmentalmanagement systems will be achieved.■■ Further mineral extraction sites will be included3.3.4 Ambitions 2020■■ The percentage of mineral extraction sites withan effective restoration plan will be increased to100 %.■■ Active exploitations within or adjacent to areasdesignated for their high biodiversity value haveactively implemented biodiversity managementplans and biodiversity monitoring.

4After-use4.1 FoundationsThe extraction of minerals always leaves hollowmoulds all of kinds, be they in the shape of a funnelor a box-hole, in the form of offsetting mountainsidesor expanding valleys, no matter if with or withoutwater, steep rock faces, flat dumps or terracedwith excavation beds. These artificial forms shouldbe integrated into the landscape after the quarryingends. They ought to be utilisable and left to naturalresettlement. And so they are, already today. The resettlementof nature and landscapes is the last stepof mining work. The term restoration points out thereference to the surrounding landscape – the extractionsite needs to be fitted into the surroundinglandscape and nature so that it will be integratedcompletely. Therefore, restoration requires focusedlandscape analysis. Then there are the varied wishesof the population for the after-use. All these actualities,wishes and demands, including taking intoaccount the call for more biodiversity, need to beintegrated in a reasonable after-use concept. Theoverall goal is the recreation of rare, near-naturalhabitats typical for the kind of excavation and ecologicallysignificant. This encompasses establishingagricultural or forestry areas and settlement plotswherever reasonable. Fields, meadows, commercialforests and settlements will be located in theplaces best suitable, meaning the flat areas. Nearnaturalhabitats will conquer the steep parts of thelandscape, which are less apt for human usage. Theconceptual aims and the planning of the restorationmeasures have to meet these demands as well aspossible and with as little conflict as possible.The priority of our conceptual aims is the maintenanceand promotion of biological diversity.Depending on the specific surroundings of eachextraction site, the restoration or the renaturationareas will prevail. It is on the agenda of Heidelberg-Cement to integrate areas within each extractionsite, which contribute to biodiversity. Their share issupposed to increase gradually depending on thelocal conditions.4.2 DefinitionsThe way we define restoration and other termsused in this context is already predetermined bythe measures and ambitions we decided to put intopractice. There are however considerable differencesin the way different countries understand13

certain terms. Because the practical usage of termson site locally differs from the scientific terminology,we would like to explain the most important termsbriefly in this chapter.RestorationRestoration means reestablishing the original ecosystem,the habitat or their functions in the undisturbedway in which they originally existed, includingbiological, chemical and physical elements.ReclamationReclamation is the reconditioning for agriculturalends or the reestablishing of the natural scenery.In most cases, the original soil as well as the originalvegetation do not exist any more, but have to bereconditioned through soil application, fertilisationand sowing.The term recultivation is predominantly used in Europeand mostly in connection with extraction sites.RecreationRecreation implies that it is not necessary to reestablishthe exact same ecosystem as existed beforethe extraction work. It means that it is enough tocreate an ecological system of any kind. It is importanthowever, that this ecosystem is ecologicallysignificant.RenaturationRenaturation means the resettlement of man-madelocations as, for instance, extraction sites (or ofecosystems influenced by men) through plants andanimals. This leads to habitats autochthonous forthe location and its climate. Renaturation is closelyconnected to reaching a high level of biologicaldiversity.Three forms can be distinguished on the basis of theintensity of human influence:■■ Renaturation goes on without initiation or humanregulation. We call this independent processnatural succession.■■ Renaturation is initiated by strategic planning andpractical measures, which accelerate the processat least in the beginning. This process can becategorised as natural succession as well.■■ The course of renaturation is systematicallychanged and controlled through planning, plantingand subsequent maintenance. Controlledrenaturation is very similar to restoration.14SuccessionIn ecology, succession denotes the chronology of plant and animal communities at one location in theprogress of time. During a succession process, an ecosystem goes through a climax from an initial statecontaining only few species up to a nearly stable final species-rich stage. The areas change quickly in akaleidoscopic way.Free succession is the settlement of areas without any human supporting measures.Controlled succession means that human support only takes place in the beginning in order to acceleratethe first settlements by introducing initial species.

Rehabilitation, Reintroduction, Reestablishingand Habitat ImprovementThe following terms differ inherently in their quality,but have distinct intersections in common. They allaim at improving a habitat type. The first three termsare aspects of restoration.Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation is the restoration orimprovement of certain aspects or functions of anecosystem or habitat. It does not necessarily implythe complete restoration of an ecosystem or habitat.Reintroduction: Reintroduction implies that onlysmall parts of an ecosystem are substituted and notthe whole ecosystem. Certain species are introducedinto an existing, established, i.e. functioningecosystem.Reestablishing: Reestablishing comprises only thetargeted reintroduction of plants and animals, forinstance through sowing or planting or throughcatching and releasing in order to increase biologicaldiversity.Habitat Improvement: The improvement of habitatfactors such as hydrological, physical or chemicalconditions for instance by targeted fertilisation canenhance the quality of a habitat.Further ReadingBr a d s h a w (1977); Ca i r n s & Ca i r n s Jr. (1995); Go r e(1985); Ka n g a s (2004); Kauffman et al. (1997); Nati o n a l Research Co u n c i l (1992); Pfadenhauer & Ma a s(1991); Pfadenhauer (1990); Ra n a (1998); Ro n i et al.(2005); Tr ä n k l e et al. (1992).Autochthonous speciesDomestic species have or used to have a naturalrange extending partly over a whole nation.Species which were introduced by manand returned to the wild do not belong in thiscategory.We speak of indigenous or autochthonousspecies if they form genetically adapted tribesin one bio-geographic region. Such species arewell-adapted to the regional environmentalconditions.We speak of autochthonous species if they havesettled at a certain location due only to ecologicalprinciples – uninfluenced by man. In most casesthe term autochthonous is used as a synonym ofthe term indigenous.15

4.3 Best Practice for Project and RestorationPlanningThe operation and extension of extraction sitesinevitably leads to using up landscape areas. Theemissions and immissions resulting from quarryingaffect nature and the environment. Therefore,HeidelbergCement aims at following good professionalpractice all around the world for all processes,be they planning, quarrying or restoring. It is essentialat planning stages to always check environmentalcompatibility. Employing a framework concept forafter-use (UVU, EIA) is a minimal requirement.Good professional practice needs to contain thefollowing four essential steps:■■ Detailed project planning in the run-up; all relevantnatural and environmental factors need tobe regarded including human beings.■■ Analysing and examining the environmental compatibility;the impact on the environment needsto be avoided or minimised at best.■■ The extraction phase.■■ Restoration concentrating on a high level of biologicaldiversity in all areas exploited.The last point, the actual restoration of habitat types,contains the following basic steps:■■ Choice of location.■■ Developing a framework restoration plan underregional sustainability aspects (text and map).■■ Developing a detailed restoration plan (text andmap).■■ Providing adequate habitat conditions.■■ Maintenance.■■ Monitoring.It is essential to keep the public adequatelyinformed during the whole process.In numerous countries there are already legal regulationsregarding restoration, but only some provideadditional guidelines or directives on how to handlethe whole planning process. Thus we list the mostimportant documents to be consulted here:■■ COP 6 Decisions, The Hague, 7 - 19 April 2002:Decision IV/7: Identification, monitoring, indicatorsand assessments■■ IAIA Headquarter (1998): Environmental MethodsReview: Retooling Impact Assessment for theNew Century. Edited by Alan L. Porter and JohnJ. Fittipaldi. Fargo, North Dakota, USA: The PressClub. March 1998. 309p.■■ Council Directive (27 June 1985) on the assessmentof the effects of certain public and privateprojects on the environment (85/337/EEC).The Council of the European Communities(as ammended from time to time).■■ Vanclay, F.; Bronstein, D. A. (1995): Environmentaland Social Impact Assessment. JohnWiley and Sons Ltd. Hrsg.: Vanclay, F.; Bronstein,D. A. ISBN-10: 047195764X, ISBN-13: 978-0471957645. 352p.■■ World Business Council for Sustainable Development(WBCSD) (2005): Environmental and socialimpact assessment (ESIA) guidelines. Land andcommunities. Version 1.0. April 2005. wbcsd@earthprint.com. 52p.16

5Management Measures in Operating Extraction SitesMany extraction sites possess species-rich communitieswith numerous rare plants and animalswithout anyone’s help even during the ongoingquarrying. The biodiversity is considerable. It ispossible, however, to further enhance and preservebiological diversity by comparatively simple measureswithout disturbing the mining activity. In thisway HeidelbergCement’s ambitions for sustainabilityare supported throughout the Group.The following general advice cannot be implementedcompletely in each and every extraction site.Thus it needs to be implemented using concertedaction, taking mining needs as well as economicfactors into account according to the specific conditionson location.Alternating Operation of Extraction SitesAn alternating operation of the extraction work isespecially favourable for biodiversity. It will generallyonly be realistic in bigger extraction sites. It meansthat the extraction should alternate in location – noteverywhere at the same time, unless geological factorsprevent this or the storing of the raw materialsis problematic. In an alternating exploitation site,wanderbiotopes can develop (long-term pacifiedareas) with their highly specialised habitats andnumerous rare plant and animal species.If habitats with endangered species have developedwithin an extraction site and these areas are neededfor further extraction, they may be relocated.Temporary Establishment of HabitatsAutochthonous species can be sown or the developmentconcept ”distribution of freshly cut grass”can be implemented on parts of areas not usedfor a longer period of time. The establishment of atemporary habitat will result in the immigration ofparts of the species into the succession areas of thequarry. This will enhance the biological diversity inthe whole extraction site. Only autochthonous seedfrom specialised commercial plant centres ought tobe used for sowing, however.Establishment of Rest ZonesAreas, which are presumably not operated anylonger, should be outsourced at an early point oftime. This means that these areas neither get passedover nor used as storage areas or rack. In these restzones the first species immigrate, which can settlethe other areas after the complete closure of the17

quarry. It is advisory to mark shallow dry areas orareas with temporary waters as rest zones. Rocksand steep faces may even be excluded from quarryingfor a while. The separation of such rest zonesfrom areas still active is achieved by ramparts madeof spoil, by large rocks or linearly stapled wood clippings.This allows specialised habitat communitiesto develop slowly.Selective Promotion of SpeciesThe more cavities and holes in the plant buildingswhere birds can slip in, the more animal speciescan benefit. Animals such as bats or birds, and withsome exceptions also reptiles and insects, shouldalways be tolerated unless they provide any kind ofdanger for the staff. Special nesting aids on buildings,rock faces or in woods may lure in designatedspecies.Soil ManagementAdvice on soil management before, during and afterquarrying is provided in section 4.4.After-use PlanningInflexible prescription and implementation ofafter-use planning needs to be replaced by a moreflexible handling of after-use concepts. This makesit possible to take spontaneous developmentof biological diversity into account on site afterthe cessation of quarrying and when it comes toreclamation.Further ReadingBDZ/VDZ (2002); Dav i s (ed.) (1981); Tr ä n k l e &Beisswenger (1999).18

6Indicators for Measuring and Controlling Biodiversity6.1 Biodiversity – A Core Topic forHeidelbergCementConservation, promotion and reconstitution ofbiodiversity has become the most important goalof sustainable development world-wide. This wasemphasised by the results of the UN World Summiton Sustainable Development in Johannesburg inAugust/September 2002. By 2010 the extinction ofspecies is to be significantly slowed down as well asthe diversity of fauna and flora to be retained.What is Biodiversity?Biodiversity is the abundance of life and the factorsthat account for it.Biodiversity encompasses for instance:■■ The number of plants and animals per area, perecosystem, per habitat, per vegetation unit, perbiocoenosis, per phytocoenosis, per zoocoenosis.■■ The number of vegetation units and types, ofhabitat types, of phytocoenosis and zoocoenosisper spatial unit.■■ The genetic diversity: the number of eco-breedsand eco-clines and the number of morphobreeds.■■ The number and length of structural elementsand units (stepping-stone habitats) per spatialunit (this was the basis for the development ofthe habitat network concept).■■ The number and the amount of eco-tone effects.HeidelbergCement Makes BiodiversityMeasurableNumerous studies within the last two decadeshave shown that not only extraction sites whichhave closed down but also those which are stilloperating and show a high degree of biodiversity.Extraction sites are thus centres of biodiversitydespite the undisputable negative effects on natureand environment. Therefore extraction sites haveto be preserved while they are still operating, aswell as in the after-use period in the sense ofglobal efforts.So-called indicators, especially biodiversity indicatorsare the appropriate instruments to make thedevelopment in the extraction sites qualitatively andquantitatively measurable, rateable and controllablewith regard to sustainability.Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) formeasuring biodiversity are also called BiodiversityIndicators (BI).The term” indicator“ derives from the Latin verb”indicare“ which can be translated as ”to show“ or”to betray“. The call for implementing sustainabilityindicators is based on chapter 40 of ”Agenda 21“(UNCED, Rio de Janeiro 1992).Further ReadingCBD (Convention on Biological Diversity); MalahideConference 2004; SEBI 2010 (Streamlining European2010 Biodiversity Indicators); World Summiton Sustainable Development 2002.19

6.2 Indicator SystemsThere are three indicator systems available atpresent. They shall be presented briefly in thef ollowing passage. HeidelbergCement strives forthe implementation of its own indicators.6.2.1 HeidelbergCement IndicatorsHeidelbergCement AG was involved in the developmentof biodiversity indicators especially adaptedfor operating extraction sites and their after-usewithin the framework of a long-term research anddevelopment project. 56 biodiversity indicatorswere generated in this project. 10 indicators werefinally chosen from this choice (cf. Tab. 1).Three of these indicators deal with the issue of habitatsin extraction sites, one indicator with ”habitats”in general, one with ”after-use” and one with ”wanderbiotopes”.The diversity of species is recordedby seven indicators, four of which belong to thesub-category ”numbers of species” and three to thesubcategory ”ecologically significant species”.The project results can be looked up on the companyhomepage, where they are available in a longand a short text version.20

Tab. 1: List of HeidelbergCement’s own indicators for the representation of successful reconstructionmeasures and for the measuring of biodiversityIndicatorComputationSet of indicators ”habitats“Subcategory habitatsHabitatsNumber of habitats per extraction site / area of the extraction site (ha)Subcategory after-useAfter-useSubcategory wanderbiotopesWanderbiotopesArea of the extraction site with after-use nature conservation (ha) / areaof the extraction site (ha) - area of the extraction site with after-usecultivated landscape (ha) / area of the extraction site (ha)Area of the wanderbiotopes in an extraction site (ha) / area of theextraction site (ha)21Set of indicators ”number of species“Subcategory number of speciesNumber of species plants ANumber of species plants BNumber of species animals ANumber of species animals BNumber of plant species in the extraction site / area of the extractionsite (ha)Number of plant species in the extraction site / number of plant speciesin the surroundingsNumber of selected animal groups in the extraction site / area of theextraction site (ha)Number of selected animal groups in the extraction site / number ofselected animal groups in the surroundingsSubcategory ecologically significant speciesEndangered species AEndangered species BSpecies of the Species ActionPlansNumber of species in a given taxocoenosis based list of species / totalnumber of species on the same given taxocoenosis based list of speciesNumber of endangered species in an extraction site / number ofendangered species in the surroundingsOccurrence and/or number of individuals of the species of the SpeciesAction Plans

6.2.2 Global Reporting InitiativeFrom the 4th - 6th October 2006 the InternationalConference of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)was held in Amsterdam, in which globally applicablequality indicators for the reporting on sustainabilitywere developed involving a broad selection ofstakeholders.■■ Among the numerous GRI-indicators there are30 so-called ecological perfor mance indicatorsaltogether, of which only five (EN 11 to EN 15)deal with biodiversity.■■ These indicators are, however, hardly suitablefor the representation of successful restorationmeasures and for the measuring and control ofbiodiversity in operating extraction sites.6.2.3 Cement Sustainability InitiativeThe Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) is a consortiumof cement companies. This consortium hasset itself the target of combining the challengesof sustainable development and of developing anagenda on sustainability.So-called key performance indicators (KPIs) weredeveloped for five different fields within the frameworkof the CSI. In the sub-field local impacts onland and communities, there are currently only twoindicators acknowledged by the members of theInitiative:■■ KPI 1: Number of active quarries within, containingor adjacent to areas designated for their highbiodiversity value, as defined by GRI 1.■■ KPI 2: Percentage of sites with high biodiversityvalue (according to KPI 1) where biodiversitymanagement plans are actively implemented.The second indicator is apt to represent the activitiesin the context of reconstruction measures. Theseindicators are, however, not suitable for measuringor controlling biodiversity in operating extractionsites. We therefore apply our own indicators.Further ReadingGRI (2000-2006); Tr ä n k l e et al. (2008); WBCSD(2005a; b).22

7Stakeholder DialogueQuarries and gravel pits are part of modern cultivatedlandscape and can be further utilised by man.The restoration and renaturation objectives shouldtherefore be developed using dialogue with municipalities,local authorities and lobbies. An opendialogue with all persons concerned is necessaryand recommended. This is the only way Heidelberg-Cement can be a vital part of society.■■ Supporting the culture of open dialogue on alllevels by hosting events and delivering presentationsregularly is mandatory. Furthermore, offeringguided tours through the extraction sites canbe prudent. HeidelbergCement also participatesactively in environmental education through lecturesand publications.■■ As members of a forward-looking concern,numerous plants within HeidelbergCement havealready established close cooperation betweenindustry and schools. Quarries and gravel pits areto be promoted as open classrooms. In order toallow interested persons insights into our extractionworks, it is crucial to develop nature trailsand films on nature conservation, mineral extractionand its history and make them available to alarge audience.■■ More and more extraction sites show interestedcitizens on presentation boards and viewing platformshow the workplace and the habitat quarryand gravel pit function. A quarry nature trail hasbeen established in the Nussloch quarry near theGerman city of Heidelberg. In cooperation withspecialised and qualified rangers of a Geopark,we offer regular guided tours there.■■ HeidelbergCement intends its commitment toprovide an active contribution to sustainableextraction of raw materials and it will thus alsopromote projects of this kind in the future.23

8BibliographyBDZ/VDZ (Bundesverband der DeutschenZementindustrie e.V./Verein DeutscherZement werke e.V.; Hrsg.) (2001): Naturschutzund Zementindustrie. Projektteil 1:Auswertung einer Umfrage. Bearbeitet vonTränkle, U.; Röhl, M. Verlag Bau + Technik,Düsseldorf. 40 S.Cairns, J.; Cairns, J. Jr. (1995): Rehabilitatingdamaged ecosystems. CRC Press, 1995.425p.Davis, B.N.K. (1977): The Hieracium flora ofchalk and limestone quarries in England.Watsonia 11: 345‐351.BDZ/VDZ (Bundesverband der DeutschenZementindustrie e.V./Verein DeutscherZementwerke e.V.; Hrsg.) (2002): Naturschutzund Zementindustrie. Projekt teil 3:Management-Empfehlungen. Bearbeitet v.Beißwenger, T.; Tränkle, U.; Heh mann, M.Verlag Bau + Technik, Düsseldorf. 26 S.BDZ/VDZ (Bundesverband der DeutschenZementindustrie e.V./Verein DeutscherZementwerke e.V.) (2003): Naturschutzund Zementindustrie – Projektteil 2: Literaturstudie.Bearbeitet von Tränkle, U.,Offenwanger, H., Röhl, M., Hübner, F. &Poschlod, P. Verlag Bau + Technik, Düsseldorf.107 S.Böhmer, J.; Rahmann, H. (1997): FaunistischeAspekte der Rekultivierung und desNaturschutzes in Steinbrüchen Südwestdeutschlands.In: Poschlod, P; Tränkle, U.;Böhmer, J.; Rahmann, H. (Hrsg.): Steinbrücheund Naturschutz - Sukzession undRenaturierung. ecomed verlagsgesellschaft:329‐485.Davis, B.N.K. (1979): Chalk and LimestoneQuarries as Wildlife Habitats. Minerals andthe Environment 1: 48‐56.Davis, B. N. K. (ed.) (1981a): Ecology of quarries:the importance of natural vegetation;proceedings of a workshop held at MonksWood. Experimental Station, 23-24 February1981. ITE symposium 11: 77 S.Davis, B.N.K. (1981b): Clipsham quarries: Theirhistory and ecology. Transactions of theLeicester literary and philosophical society72: 59‐68.Gilcher, S.; Bruns, D. (1999): Renaturierungvon Abbaustellen. Praktischer Naturschutz.Hrsg.: E. Jedicke. Ulmer Verlag. 355 S.GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) (2000-2006):Sustainability Reporting Guidelines Version3.0. 45p.ICMM (International Council on Mining andMetals) (2006): Good Practice Guidance forMining and Biodiversity. Edited by: LindaStarke. 142p.24

Kangas, P.C. (2004): Ecological Engineering:Principles and Practice. CRC Press. 452p.National Research Council. (U.S.) (1992): Restorationof aquatic ecosystems. Committeeon restoration of aquatic ecosystems-science,technology and public policy. NationalAcademy Press, Washington, DC.Rademacher, M. (2001): Untersuchungenzur Vegetationsdynamik anthropogenerKiesflächen am Oberrhein unter Berücksichtigunglandschaftsökologischer undnaturschutzfachlicher Belange. - Inaugural-Dissertation, Fakultät für Biologie der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i.Br., 311 S. +Anhang.Tränkle, U. (1997): Vergleichende Untersuchungenzur Sukzession von Steinbrüchenund neue Ansätze für eine standorts- undnaturschutzgerechte Renatu rierung. In: Poschlod,P., Tränkle, U., Böhmer, J., Rahmann,H. (Hrsg.): Steinbrüche und Naturschutz,Sukzession und Renaturierung. Umweltforschungin Baden-Württem berg: 1-327.ecomed Verlag, Landsberg.Tränkle, U.; Rademacher, M.; Friedel, G.;Löckener, R.; Basten, M.; Schmid, V. (2008):Sustainability indicators for integrated managementof raw material and nature conservation– pilot project in the Schelklingencement plant. Cement International 4/2008Vol. 6: 68-75.25Rana, B.C. (Ed.) (1998): Damaged Ecosystemsand Restoration. Veröffentlicht von WorldScientific. 313p.Roni, P.; Hanson, K.; Beechie, T.; Pess, G.; Pollock,M.; Bartley, D.M. (2005): Habitat rehabilitationfor inland fisheries. Global reviewof effectiveness and guidance for rehabilitationof freshwater ecosystems. FAO FisheriesTechnical Paper. No. 484. Rome, FAO. 116p.WBCSD (World Business Council for SustainableDevelopment) (2005): Environmentaland social impact assessment (ESIA) guidelines.Land and communities. Cement SustainabilityInitiative (CSI). Version 1.0. 52p.WBCSD (World Business Council for SustainableDevelopment) (2005): The cementsustainability initiative progress report June2005. 27p.

9Glossaryabiotic factorsall-year grazingamphibiansautochthonousbelaybiocoenosisbiodiversityBiodiversity Action Planbioturbationbrowsingbush fruitcold air currentdepth zoningdiasporediversitydomesticdrainageeco-race, eco-typeecosystemeco-toneedgeserosionAll physical and chemical influences in the inanimate environment such asclimate, soil, relief.A grazing method: the cattle stays on the same pasture throughout the wholegrazing period.Collective name for frogs, toads, newts and so on.Indigenous, i.e. originating from the same area or habitat.Plane or slightly inclined upside of rock.Community of organisms of various species (animals, plants, fungi, etc.) within adefinable ➞ habitat.Encompasses the diversity of species, the genetic diversity and the diversity ofecosystems.The Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally acknowledged instrument for theprotection, promotion and development of species and habitats.Relocation of soil layers by small-size organisms such as earthworms, gophersetc.Food intake of wild animals such as deer, fallow deer etc.Shrubs and trees of various genera producing edible berries, fruit, nuts or leaves.Cold air directed towards the valley or down a slope, streaming close to theground; it forms especially at night in light wind situations and predominantlyunder high pressure weather conditions.Characteristic layering of deep lakes with free water body, called Pelagial and bottomzone called Benthal. The bottom zone encompasses the shore (called Littoral) andthe lightless area at the very bottom of the lake, called Profundal.Distributional units of plants such as seed, spores, fruit, tubers, bulbs etc.Variety of biotic systems; diversity in species, in structure, in function may bedistinguished in spatial and temporal coordinates.Species which occur naturally only or, to a certain extent, in one state or at leastused to do so.The subterranean removal of water through tubes or hoses with holes in order tomake agricultural land workable.Different ecological conditions result in different populations of one species withina larger location, having genetically adapted to a certain environmental influence(e. g. heavy metal).Network of organisms interacting with each other and their ➞ habitat.Transitional zone between different ➞ habitats or landscapes.Linear plant stands connecting open lands and woody plant stands.Abrasion of the earth’s surface caused by water or wind.26

expositionfallowfaunaflood plainfloragrain sizegrasslandgreen manuringgrovehabitathabitat networkhedgeindicatorinitial levelling workinvertebratesloessmargemeadowmonoculturemoormorphologymowingnatural forestPosition of a location with regard to the direction; relevant for the energybalance, the climate balance and the water balance of an area.An area which is temporarily, or for a longer period, not cultivated.Entirety of all animal species of an area.Area along flowing water bodies characterised by alternating flooding and lowwater.Entirety of all plant species of an area.Size of solid particles in ➞ sediments.Type of landscape and vegetation with a more or less closed cover of grasses andherbs; shrubs and trees are missing completely or are at least very rare.Supply with nutrients and organic material in soil by planting and ploughing incultivated plants.Small wood dominated by tree species in between agricultural areas.Place where an individual or a population lives.A network of ➞ habitats and functional, ecological interrelations in a landscape inorder to ensure the survival of species and ➞ biocoenosis.A kind of upright young wood (uniserial or pluiserial). The shrubs or bushes standclosely and densely together and are branchy.An indicator shows the change or the achievement of a state, for instance indicatorsfor measuring ➞ biodiversity.Preparing the shaping of the ➞ morphology of an area.All animals without a spinal column such as insects, molluscs and worms.A kind of unconsolidated rock, made up of fine materials, originating in the iceage,when it was transported and sedimented by the wind.Little used, linear edge or borderline in field areas, often with steps in the terrain➞ Grassland, mown as farmland (➞ mowing/swath).An agricultural area that may also be used as a commercial forest on which onlyspecies of crop plants is cultivated for instance a heat or rice field, a spruce forest,a eucalyptus plantation.A wetland habitat, in which decomposition of plant remnants functions incompletelybecause of a constant surplus of water, leading to an accumulation ofcarbon-rich decomposition products (peat).Description of the surface forms of an area.Cuttings of meadows used as fodder or litter or bedding.Forest areas that are not utilised any longer but left to a natural developmentuninfluenced by man.27

pasturephytocoenosispioneer forestplant communitypollard treespopulationprimeval forestprotosoilreedsregenerative energiesreproductionreptilesrotational grazingsealingsedgesedimentshrubberystepping-stone habitat➞ Grassland used as farmland for the grazing of domestic animals (➞ all-yeargrazing ➞ rotational grazing).Symbiotic community of plants within a defined area (➞ habitat).Succession stages in the reforestation of a location characterised by more or lessshort-lived woody plants needing a lot of light. Pioneer forests are substituted byand by as a consequence of ➞ succession by species of the overmature forest.Number of plant species occuring in a large area in similar composition (e. g. beechforests, semi-arid grassland).Pollard trees possess a thick trunk branching out into lots of twigs so as to from adense head of foliage. This typical form is a result of cutting back the tree to thetrunk over many generations. The branches of poplars, ash trees or hornbeamwere used to feed cattle earlier on, willows were used to make baskets and thelike.Entirety of all individuals of one species within a certain habitat.Forests which have undergone no or only little interference by humans, havingdeveloped according to the ➞ abiotic conditions.Protosoil is an initial stage of soil development with a small degree of humus anda high degree of not weathered original material.➞ Plant communities in shallow waters at river banks or lake shores, consisting oftall perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo,Typha and Phragmites.Energy types such as wind energy, water power, solar power, biomass energy.Synonymous term for progeny of organisms.Collective name for such species as turtles, snakes, lizards etc.A grazing method: the pasture is divided up in parts, which are grazed in a regularrhythm with intermediate rest-periods for the unused parts.Cover of the soil during construction works of streets, paths and building withasphalt (tarmac), concrete, pavement stones etc.Plant which frequently occurs in wet habitats such as ➞ swamps and ➞ moors ofthe genus Carex.Accumulation of materials in layers: we distinguish clastic s. (material such assand and clay removed and transported by ➞ erosion), chemical s. (materialsuch as calcium carbonate, deposited by chemical processes in the water) andbiogene s. (deposits of organic remnants such as corals).Plane, irregular copses formed by shrubs in agricultural landscapes.Insular habitats functioning as intermediate stages in the spreading of species(➞ habitat network).28

stonewortsstratificationsubsoilsuccessionswamptall forb vegetationtemporary waterstopsoilvegetationvertebrateswanderbiotopeswater capacitywet meadowzoocoenosisCharaceae, small group of about 200 species of green alga, frequently embedcalcium carbonate, predominantly in sweet water.The treatment of seed e. g. by deep temperatures to promote or even enablegermination.Lower layer of the soil, predominantly poor of humus; part of the groundbetween ➞ topsoil and parent material.The change of plant and animal communities in the course of time in one location.➞ free succession is the uncontrolled development of nature at a location.A wetland habitat with periodically very wet soil, which contains no peat contraryto ➞ moors (e. g. because of the young age, due to droughts or oxygen-richspringwater).➞ Plant communities on wet, nutrient-high soil, formed by high growing, perennialherbal plant species.Water bodies which dry up completely for certain periods of time; opposite:perennial waters holding water all year round.Upper part of the soil containing a characteristic percentage of humus andmicroorganisms and thus darker than the ➞ subsoil.Entirety of plant communities in an area.All animals with a spinal column such as mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles.Constantly new emerging succession zones in operating extraction sites due tothe spatial and temporal change of quarrying sections.Maximum amount of water soil can hold if the water can run through freely.A type of meadow in wetlands (➞ swamps and ➞ moors), grown with grasses,juncales, sedges and other herb-species, free of woody plants.Symbiotic community of animals within a defined ➞ habitat.29

ImprintHeidelbergCement (ed.) (2008): Promotion ofBiodiversity at the Mineral Extraction Sites ofHeidelbergCement. 1st Edition.Edited by: Dr Michael Rademacher,Dr Ulrich Tränkle, Dr Friederike Hübner,Hans Offenwanger and Stefanie KaufmannThis document is a translation. The German version is binding.Contact30Dr Michael RademacherManager Biodiversity and Natural ResourcesGroup Environmental SustainabilityHeidelbergCementmichael.rademacher@heidelbergcement.comDr Ulrich TränkleExecutive director, senior ecologistAG.L.N. Landscape planning andnature conservation managementtraenkle@agln.de