Applications for the IMA-Europe 2016 Recognition Award for Biodiversity

1. Applicants in the category:
BIODIVERSITY

2. Mattia Pelegrini Prof. K. Van Acker Grégory Mahy Boris Barov
JURY MEMBERS

3. CANDIDATE 1
Quarzwerke GmbH
Promotion of biodiversity in the
renatured forest wildlife
Contact: Britta Franzheim
franzheim@quarzwerke.com
www.buschbellerwald.de

4. speciesWhereas open pit quarries offer welcome pioneer habitats for
many rare and endangered plant and animal species, creating a
habitat for old-forest species takes many decades. It is a highly
complex process requiring a special strategy.
In 2014 Quarzwerke signed a partnership with the forestry office,
resulting in:
- A changed forestry concept
- Provision of maternity roosts & winter boxes for bats on trees
- Construction of a bats winter cave
- Creation of woodland for amphibians in 2012
- Building of an amphibian tunnel
The recultivated mining area not only provides a habitat for over
600 pioneer species; it protects old forest wildlife too.
Promotion of biodiversity in the renatured forest wildlife
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 1
Quarzwerke GmbH

5. CANDIDATE 2
Imerys Refractory Minerals
Enhanced rehabilitation practices to foster
the settlement of the Rainbow Bird
Contact: Laure Fontaine
Laure.fontaine@imerys.com
www.imerys.com

6. A regional endangered species called the Rainbow bird
(Merops Apiaster) has been observed nesting in IRM Clérac’s
operating quarries. The rehabilitation of the quarry may
compromise the settlement of this bird, which needs specific
conditions to nest. Good practices need to be defined to make
sure that the settlement of this bird will be sustainable.
In parallel to applying to open a new quarry in the South of
France, IRM Clérac signed a 10-year convention with a local
association to foster the development of this bird in the new
quarry. The NGO Charente Nature will monitor the settlement,
give advice and define good practices.
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 2
Imerys Refractory
Minerals
Enhanced rehabilitation to foster the settlement of
the Rainbow Bird

7. CANDIDATE 3
Sibelco Europe
Valuing our natural capital:
a strong partnership between mining
and biodiversity
Cathy Blervacq & Inez Gorez
Cathy.blervacq@sibelco.com
Inez.gorez@sibelco.com
www.sibelco.com

8. Sibelco developed a Natural Capital approach (our quarries)
together with a supportive toolkit, to counterbalance negative
impacts on nature and that shows that sustainable mining can
create great opportunities for nature and biodiversity.
Sibelco started to apply it to reference sites throughout
Europe. The knowledge and expertise being built in the
Reference Sites will be used to inspire other sites.
In addition, two Europe wide action programs were launched: a
Species Protection Program for pioneer species related to
quarry areas, as well as a Calculator for Ecosystem Services
(ESS) and Biodiversity based upon specific land use in our
quarries (before, during or after mining).
Valuing our natural capital – Biodiversity Strategy
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 3
Sibelco Europe

9. CANDIDATE 4
Sibelco France
Compensation measures for the
protection of orchid Ophrys drumana
Contact: Laurence Vouillot
Laurence.vouillot@sibelco.com
Inez.gorez@sibelco.com
www.sibelco.com

10. Inventories showed the presence of Ophrys drumana in a
future kaolin and silica sand quarry area in the South East of
France. Ophrys drumana, a protected species, grows in
calcareous grasslands, near forest edges and is endangered
by increasing forest development. Sibelco France proposed
compensation measures and acquired “les pelouses de tête
d’homme” of 1.2 ha, home to a significant population of
Ophrys drumana. Sibelco reopened the landscape by cutting
bushes manually and uses horse grazing to maintain it open.
After 4 years, local flora showed a fourfold increase in the
Ophrys drumana population, a total count of 22 different
orchids with the introduction of 5 new orchid species.
The site has subsequently been designated as a protection
zone for biotopes by the French authorities.
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 4
Sibelco France
Compensation measures for the protection of the
orchid Ophrys drumana

11. CANDIDATE 5
Sibelco France
Creating a substitution area for
Silene portensis
Contact: Laurence Vouillot
Laurence.vouillot@sibelco.com
Inez.gorez@sibelco.com
www.sibelco.com

12. Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 5
Sibelco France
Creating a substitution area for Silene portensis
The quarries of Bédoin are silica sand quarries close to the
Mont Ventoux, South East France. They are located next to a
ZNIEFF protected area for fauna and flora. Silene portensis, a
very rare and regional protected species is found in the area. It
grows on acidic sandy grounds and disappears when the
vegetation becomes denser.
In 2004, an inventory was conducted as part of a study to
expand the quarry. A hot spot of Silene portensis was found
that would be jeopardized by the expansion. Sibelco France
took substitution measures to create a sandy area of 300m² to
allow the reintegration of Silene portensis. The Silene
portensis plants were relocated and the seeds were collected
and planted manually in 2005. End 2009, the population in the
new sandy area show an important increase: more than 150
plants compared to 10 plants in 2002.

13. CANDIDATE 6
Sibelco Deutschland
Yellow-bellied toad development
programme
Gerd Klemmer & Burkard Toellers
gklemmer@sibelco.com
btoellers@sibelco.com
www.sibelco.eu

14. Since 2009, Sibelco Deutschland is actively supporting
amphibians in its clay and kaolin operations. In Oedingen,
their habitat has been optimised and extended by creating
ponds and keeping the area open. The company works closely
together with specialists and authorities.
Since 2012 Oedingen is part of the project “Restoring and
linking of yellow-bellied toad populations in Germany”. The
positive developments led Oedingen to become a source
habitat for the repopulation of other areas. During the
reproduction period eggs from ponds with low water levels
are collected and reared ex situ. Later the larvae are
returned to areas (within the former natural distribution
area), that are suitable for Yellow bellied toads but currently
without a population. See: www.projekt-gelbbauchunke.de
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 6
Sibelco Deutschland
Yellow-bellied toad development programme

15. CANDIDATE 7
Sibelco
Ecological connectivity on
Arcos de la Frontera
Amparo Pérez Ponce & Carmen Navarro Mariscal
Amparo.perez@sibelco.com,
Carmen.navarro@sibelco.com
www.sibelco.eu

16. Sibelco Spain has developed a Biodiversity Management Plan
in the quarry of “Arcos de la Frontera”. The plan is a
guidance tool for the ecological balance in the quarry area. It
covers the different life stages of the quarry: areas where
extraction takes place, areas in the process of being restored,
and restored areas. The management of exotic species (Acacia
farnesiana) and specific actions to ensure the survival of some
species (Bee-eater, Cork oak) are also covered.
The quarry of Arcos is creating several lagoons in the area
that function as an important connectivity between larger
water bodies in the surroundings. In the short term, the
lagoons can become important resting or foraging areas for
migratory animals (birds and mammals). In the long term,
these lagoons will upgrade the structural ecological
connectivity of the land, because the lagoons will form an
important stepping stone between larger water bodies.
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 7
Sibelco Spain
Ecological connectivity in Arcos de la Frontera

17. CANDIDATE 8
Nordkalk AB
Appollo and Large Blue butterfly project
Contact: Gabriella Hammerskjöld
Gabriella.hammerskjold@nordkalk.com
www.nordkalk.com

18. In connection with Nordkalk´s latest limestone quarry permit
application for a new quarry area on Gotland, the EIA study
found two rare butterflies, the Apollo (Parnassius apollo) and
Large Blue (Maculinea arion), at the planned quarry. Nordkalk
developed a special protection and conservation program
aiming to increase the natural areas for the two rare butterfly
species at a suitable overgrown nature area close to the
quarry. A detailed plan how to trim bushes and trees to create
the right habitat conditions for the butterflies and there host
plants and host ants was developed with help from experienced
ecological experts. This project is the first of its kind in the
Swedish Mining Industry regulating protection and conservation
measures according to the Habitats Directive (Council Directive
92/43/EEC) by a Swedish Environmental Court decision. The
court decision stated that such an approach was considered to
comply with the Habitats Directive's overall aim of biological
diversity and restoration work.
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 8
Nordkalk AB
Apollo and Large Blue butterfly project

19. CANDIDATE 9
CARMEUSE
Western Europe
Local school visits on biodiversity
Contact: Fabrice Foucart
Fabrice.foucart@carmeuse.com
www.carmeuse.com

20. The plant of Carmeuse Aisemont organizes school visits in
restored parts of the quarry, rich in biodiversity: orchids,
butterflies, reptiles, falcons, owls, … The visits are made for
local school groups with the support of local nature
associations who provide help in communicating science to the
children.
This is a pragmatic example of the close relationship between
the industrial operator and its social environment. The
education of young students on how industry can integrate
nature in its day-to-day life is an important part of the
Carmeuse sustainability program. It also helps the teacher to
give concrete examples to students on how they can act for
biodiversity in their own environment.
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 9
Carmeuse
Local school visits on biodiversity

21. CANDIDATE 10
IMERYS Industrial Minerals Greece
Milos Vineyard, an innovative
reclamation project
Contact: Anna Vogli
Anna.vogli@imerys.com
www.imerys.com

22. In 2014, IMERYS (then S&B Industrial Minerals S.A.) kicked off
an initiative bridging innovation with public awareness and
biodiversity through a new economic activity for the local
community of Milos island, Greece. The worked-out areas of
the Trachilas perlite mine are being converted into a vineyard
to sustain local community welfare when mining ceases.
In 2014, 17.500 vines of Cycladic origin (assyrtiko) were planted
at 5 ha and sample grapes were harvested in 2015. An organic
cultivation method is applied promoting the protection and
conservation of the environment using local plant species,
encouraging Milos’ residents to employ more environmentally
friendly farming methods. Recycled water is to be used for
irrigation, conserving the water resources of Milos island.
More information: https://youtu.be/6E-t2MnrHt8
Category: Biodiversity
Candidate 10
Imerys Greece
Milos Vineyard, an innovative reclamation project

23. Winners to be announced after
28 September 2016 on
http://www.ima-europe.eu/award/