Tarmac back to nature wirth biodiversity management

Tarmac has discovered that a home-grown approach to 'biodiversity management can deliver ecological and business benefits. Contract Journal explains

While the quarrying industry has for long been at the forefront of habitat creation, today there is a much stronger focus on ecological issues than ever before. This is accompanied by a wider acknowledgement that proactive biodiversity management can often help to secure a company’s ‘licence to operate’ from society and hence deliver business benefits. This recognition has pushed the topic up the corporate agenda.

Chris Dobbs, director of estates and geology at Tarmac, says that reinstatement of quarries is now an integral part of every operator's business. “It is pleasing to see how widely the case for biodiversity is now being embraced by the UK quarrying sector," he adds. "Our industry manages a substantial proportion of land with important habitats and species, and there is a growing understanding of the need to incorporate biodiversity into the strategic planning of each site.”

 The development of Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) for a quarry focuses on identifying the ecology and ecological potential of the site in a local, regional and sometimes national context. It assesses what steps can be taken to manage biodiversity effectively and sensitively, so that, wherever possible, the biodiversity potential is maximised.

Tarmac employs independent ecologists to establish BAP frameworks for individual quarries, and advise on a site-specific range of measures to monitor, manage and enhance biodiversity over the lifecycle of the quarry and beyond. Many important habitats, including areas having the national designation of ‘Sites of Special Scientific Interest' are in fact within quarries, such as the firm's Lound quarry in Nottinghamshire, where in excess of 300 hectares of former workings are designated for their value for birds. Tarmac’s BAPs also often tie in with the BAPs that are in place at a regional level, for example within a national park, and often within wider, national plans.

BAPs are nothing new to the industry. Tarmac has had individual biodiversity plans in place in its site at Ballidon (in the Peak District National Park) and Mancetter quarries for more than five years. In early 2007, it also successfully delivered a countywide BAP for seven quarries in Northumberland. This work, which surveyed over 350 hectares of land, has helped the company to put in place robust measures to protect species such as the red squirrel, linnet and skylark, as well as enhancing important habitats such as whin grassland and wet woodland.  

According to Dobbs, Tarmac is just weeks away from becoming the first UK quarrying company to have a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in place in all of its 120 active quarries in the UK. It has created individual plans for each site as part of a commitment to ensure that biodiversity is embedded into the strategic planning of each site.

 "It is important that the quarrying industry and wider business community see the full potential of BAPs, Dobbs adds. "More so than ever, they have a strong environmental and social obligation to biodiversity, but if companies need any more reason to consider BAP schemes, they should look at the many potential benefits that they can deliver". 

He says that getting biodiversity right can often involve developing stronger links with local communities, interest groups and local authorities. “There are significant environmental and business benefits of getting BAPs in place, if the process is approached correctly. As well as helping us to protect wildlife and habitats, the BAP process for each quarry has helped us to support existing engagement activities, building greater trust, understanding and confidence in our operations with local and regional stakeholders," he adds.

 “For us, BAPs are not corporate greenwash. Biodiversity is now something that is central to our operations and we have taken proactive steps to ensure that we are at the forefront of our industry in this area. As land managers, we have a strong  responsibility to the habitats where we operate and mitigate the impact we have through our operations. Our employees understand the importance of BAPs and that this is not a token environmental gesture.”