The extraction of marl in the ENCI quarry has always been at odds with its natural environment. As the quarry itself, but also the original site and its direct environment, provide specific habitat features for all kinds of exceptional flora and fauna species, it is of great importance for nature. A conflict arose where industry met nature and where alignment of goals needed to be implemented. This led to a process with different stakeholders where coordination between nature and marl extraction was often time consuming and also complicated to achieve. Looking back, there is much to learn for the enhancement of biodiversity, streamlining of stakeholders' views and creation of social acceptance in other quarries. The objective is to learn from the history of the ENCI quarry and its relation with nature. We will create an inspiration document that can be used in new and exploited quarries. A top 10 Key Drivers for success for success will enhance biodiversity and quarry extraction at the same time. Applying the key drivers will improve stakeholder relations, enrich the wildlife within and around the quarry and will provide the company a strong license to operate. Read more: http://www.quarrylifeaward.com/project/top-10-key-issues-success
About ARCADIS ARCADIS is the leading global natural and built asset design and consultancy firm working in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes through the application of design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services. ARCADIS differentiates through its talented and passionate people and its unique combination of capabilities covering the whole asset life cycle, its deep market sector insights and its ability to integrate health & safety and sustainability into the design and delivery of solutions across the globe. We are 22,000 people that generate €2.5 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. Please visit: www.arcadis.com More information? Please contact us at one of our offices: Arnhem ‘De Rijntoren’ Nieuwe Stationsstraat 10 6811 KS Arnhem P.O. Box 33 6800 LE Arnhem T +31 (0)26 377 8911 E [email protected]I www.arcadis.nl Amersfoort +31 (0)33 477 1000 Apeldoorn +31 (0)55 581 5999 Assen +31 (0)592 392 111 Goes +31 (0)11 322 7410 ‘s-Hertogenbosch +31 (0)73 680 9211 Hoofddorp +31 (0)23 566 8411 Hoorn +31 (0)22 928 5285 Maastricht +31 (0)43 352 3311 Rotterdam +31 (0)10 253 2222 Zwolle +31 (0)38 777 7700 10 key factors for a stronger license to operate Better results with Biodiversity in Quarries
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About ARCADISARCADIS is the leading global natural and built asset design and consultancy firm working in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes through the application of design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services. ARCADIS differentiates through its talented and passionate people and its unique combination of capabilities covering the whole asset life cycle, its deep market sector insights and its ability to integrate health & safety and sustainability into the design and delivery of solutions across the globe. We are 22,000 people that generate €2.5 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. Please visit: www.arcadis.com
More information? Please contact us at one of our offices:
Mining sites are commonly perceived as environmentally unfriendly. Many experiences have learned us that where industry meets nature, often conflicts arise. These encounters can give rise to threats to exceptional flora and fauna species that inhabit such places. Local residents are concerned about this loss of biodiversity and protest against quarry development. However, mining sites provide great opportunities for all kinds of flora and fauna species. This is because they offer a wide variety of habitats within various landscapes. Making use of the biodiversity potential that mining sites have while taking the concerns of the local residents into account creates opportunities that could improve both biodiversity and the position of the quarry operator.
Biodiversity is therefore a decisive factor in planning, managing and closing a mining site. That’s why HeidelbergCement is committed to managing biodiversity during and after extraction. It is our belief that this is only successful when care for biodiversity goes hand in hand with cooperation with critical stakeholders. Resistance against mining activities, due to concerns about biodiversity degradation can be transformed into joint plans for the protection and development of valuable ecosystems in and around the quarry. This will lead to commitment and support from residents and nature organizations and therefore to a sustainable license to operate for the quarry operator.
In the context of the Quarry Life Award, ARCADIS has performed research on how this process has elapsed in the almost 100 years operational phase and in the transformation of the ENCI quarry near Maastricht (The Netherlands). By conducting interviews and consulting resources and reference projects, a top 10 of key factors for a strong license to operate has been formulated. This top 10 consists of 5 key factors related to stakeholder relations and 5 key factors related to biodiversity.
I Stakeholder relations II Biodiversity
III Licence to operate
Stakeholder relationsIn order to improve stakeholder relations and effectiveness, there are five important key factors.
1. Look for a mutual goalSharing a mutual goal is an important aspect in conflict management and reaching an agreement. Being open and clear about your goals is very important in order to be able to define conflicts more easily and to respond to these conflicts effectively. Accept the fact that biodiversity is a crucial factor in realizing your plan and realize that fighting with nature organizations and residents only has a paralyzing effect for all parties that are involved. With cooperation and sharing goals, a mutual understanding is created that helps working efficiently. Understanding and appreciating each other’s interests helps in formulating mutual goals.
2. Create a team of representativesIt is important to have a core team of representatives from the different parties that are involved. By working in a team of committed people, it is not only more easily to negotiate, but also trust and cooperation will improve when people know each other and have confidence in each other. It is important to ensure that delegates are mandated and trusted by their groups.
3. Focus on interests, not positionsBehind every position of stakeholders, there is often an underlying interest that is the main issue for them. Clear insight in each other’s main issues and underlying interest, creates opportunities to come up with mutual solutions that seemed impossible at the beginning of the process.
4. Maintain a wide support in the environmentInvolvement of the public complicates the process, but it has the potential to create solutions that are widely supported by the public. By involving residents and organizations in the vicinity of the quarry from the start, you prevent that they will feel left behind and uninformed. This will eventually save time and money.
5. See your opponent as your partnerAn honest and open relation is essential; transparency is very important. All involved parties need to be able to view the project from different points of view, also that of the opposing group. This can be achieved by appointing a neutral chairman, who ensures an open relation and also equality between all parties.
Biodiversity improvement5 key factors that are important for improving the biodiversity in and around quarries have been pointed out:
6. Avoid impacts on biodiversity when possibleBe aware of the distribution and vulnerability of local biodiversity, and use this information as a basis for your extraction plan. Avoidance is often the easiest, cheapest and most effective way of reducing potential negative impacts, so it’s important to consider biodiversity in the early stage of a mining project. Recognize avoidance zones as protected areas to maintain biodiversity during the mining period, and as a pool of species for recolonization after closure of the quarry.
7. Minimize unavoidable damage during extractionMinimizing environmental damage during extraction helps to reduce biodiversity decline and can be achieved by simple actions such as minimizing disturbances. It is important that damage is minimized at the extraction site, but also in the surrounding landscapes. Be prepared that several species might colonize the quarry during the extraction phase by developing a plan to manage these resident species in relation to your mining activities.
8. Restore biodiversity after extractionAn abandoned quarry provides perfect opportunities for biodiversity that are complementary to the existing wildlife in the area. The afterlife of the quarry can be either rehabilitation of the original habitat or creation of a different habitat than the original one. In some cases the mining has created beautiful landscapes with opportunities for unique ecosystems. Rehabilitation is also important for improving basic ecosystem functions such as erosion control and water quality regulation.
9. Make smart use of the topsoilThe top soil layer is the upper and most fertile layer of the earth. It contains a large store of seeds and nutrients that are vital to the success of future mine rehabilitations. Research has shown that there is a strong link between successful recovery of biodiversity and replacement of the topsoil. Storing the topsoil you excavate during the exploitation phase is one way to realise this.
10. Collaborate with nature organizationsUse the knowledge and skills of professional organizations and experts. Their role is essential in developing measures and in creating a trustful relationships with the stakeholders. Conservation organizations should be given an active role in all phases of the process; planning, development and evaluation of biodiversity actions, in as well as around the quarry.
“These 10 key factors
are essential for a
successful and strong
license to operate for
HeidelbergCement and
to increase the credibility
of your quarry. Let’s care
about biodiversity!”
This brochure is the result of our contribution to
the Quarry Life Award 2014 Project, initiated by
HeidelbergCement. We were inspired by the history of the ENCI quarry near Maastricht. In the ENCI quarry the extraction will be terminated after almost a century. Over the years, this quarry has expanded in an area with very high natural values, like bat habitats and chalk grasslands. After decennia of struggle, an alliance of stakeholders of various disciplines has been formed in order to create a development plan for the future. At the same time exceptional flora and fauna species were being promoted during the operational phase of the quarry. This sounds simple, but in reality this was a complex process, where all kinds of stakeholders were involved and all their different views had to be streamlined. Therefore, we believe that we should learn from such a case study. Not only in order to be more time and cost efficient, but also to create a strong license to operate for future mining activities all around the world.
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ARCADISBeaulieustraat 226814 AD ArnhemP.O. Box 1396800 AG ArnhemThe Netherlands For more information please contactReinoud KleijbergT +31 6 27061585E [email protected]
