The CSI has collected case studies that highlight responsible quarrying rehabilitation activities. These are drawn from a range of quarry types and local habitats around the world. They include rehabilitation “lessons learned” and contact details for further information in the hope they prove useful for other companies involved in similar quarrying or rehabilitation activities. The case studies have been reviewed by external parties. As a set they can be categorized according to their focus:

• True methodological approach: Biological inventory followed by evaluation to assess ecosystem and species characteristics. Objectives are clearly linked to evaluation results
• Systematic intervention: A focus on one habitat or ecosystem e.g., forest/waterway
• Specific action: A focus on one or a few species
• Technical approach: Sharing internal technical knowledge about techniques particularly relevant to cement industry, for example excavation technologies and systems
• No biodiversity objective: Rehabilitation objectives could focus on issues like tourism, environmental education or mixed land use, but biodiversity enhancement also occurs in that process usually thanks to engagement with local stakeholders.

These case studies are examples of existing good practices. They aim to share learning and disseminate good practice, and to improve rehabilitation practices around the world, not just in the areas outlined in this set of case studies. Learning on rehabilitation is continuous and there is more progress to be made – the process of developing these provided a good opportunity for each company to consider the learning they have undergone already.

Related work

The European Aggregates Association (UEPG), has been compiling case studies from amongst its own members, and these can be found here.

More information

For more information on the Biodiversity Working Group, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• Aggregate Industries UK: Rehabilitating a mosaic of habitats (UK)
• CEMEX: Learning whilst rehabilitating (France) (466kb)
• CEMEX: Species restoration in a tropical dry forest (Costa Rica) (243kb)
• CEMEX: Transfer of a successful restoration model (Mexico) (208kb)
• CEMEX: Ecological rehabilitation in Mediterranean conditions (Spain) (194kb)
• Cimpor: Rehabilitation in an Atlantic Forest Area (Brazil) (97kb)
• HeidelbergCement: Coastal rehabilitation for nesting success (Hong Kong) (201kb)
• HeidelbergCement: Restoration for local communities (Nussloch - Germany) (79kb)
• HeidelbergCement: Protecting one species in many locations (Sand Martin - Germany) (149kb)
• HeidelbergCement: Species reintroduction (Poland) (153kb)
• Holcim: Wetland restoration at Little Paxton (England) (86kb)
• Holcim: 20 years of rehabilitation (New Zealand) (236kb)
• Holcim: A haven for birds during active extraction (Spain) (54kb)
• Italcementi: Partnering for effective rehabilitation (Thailand) (297kb)
• Italcementi: Rehabilitation in a Mediterranean climate (Spain) (275kb)
• Italcementi: Restoring for water provision in a dry area (India) (335kb)
• Italcementi: Starting out in rehabilitation (Bulgaria) (307kb)
• Lafarge: Maintaining and growing rare plants (France) (160kb)
• NPC-Cimpor (SIMUMA): Controlling Alien Plants (South Africa) (850kb)
• Secil: Learning to value biodiversity (Portugal) (158kb)
• Secil: Biodiversity action planning (Portugal) (177kb)
• Taiheiyo Cement: Maintaining and growing rare plant species (Japan) (287kb)
• Titan: Safe-guarding an endangered species (USA) (1,430kb)