How CSI Companies are Restoring Ecosystems and Enhancing Biodiversity

View company case studies about responsible quarry rehabilitation

Quarrying is the essential first step in the cement production process because limestone, shale or clay must be extracted from below the surface to provide the industry’s raw material. First, companies must obtain a license to operate at any particular site, and therefore usually complete an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This focuses on the area’s ecosystems, habitats and biodiversity, and includes rehabilitation plans during and after extraction.

Quarrying activities often entail significant local environmental impacts as the soil is always removed and the topography altered, or local ecosystems and watersheds are impacted. During or after extraction, opportunities arise to rehabilitate the area and ensure the biodiversity is maintained or even enhanced. Rehabilitation activities depend on the area’s biogeographic conditions, local partners and expertise, and company motivation.

The business case for quarry rehabilitation is clear: companies obtain permits to operate only when they demonstrate their commitment to rehabilitation. The WBCSD’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) companies also understand their responsibility to the local habitats and communities, and the opportunity to maximize the potential positive impacts of quarrying activities. The benefits of quarry rehabilitation outweigh the long-term costs to the cement companies and to the natural environment and local communities.

Click here to view the case studies collected by the CSI.