Press release | 07 Apr, 2009

Holcim Spain and the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN-Med) sign an agreement to develop initiatives for the protection of the environment and biodiversity

The objective of this cooperation agreement between the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN-Med) and Holcim Spain is to develop a series of short-term joint activities and to establish a future collaboration framework in order to begin new conservation and restoration projects of the natural surroundings affected by the industrial activities of the company. The primary aim of the agreement, which has been given a budget of 18,000 euro and is of 6 months duration, is to advise Holcim as to how to adequately integrate ecological and social aspects when setting into action a Comprehensive Restoration Plan for the quarry of the cement factory in Torredonjimeno,located near Jaén (Spain).

Photo: Holcim

Madrid, 23 March 2009 – The central theme of the cooperation agreement between Holcim and the Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN-Med), whose headquarters are situated in Malaga (Spain), is to carry out activities for the protection of the environment and biodiversity in the natural surroundings of Holcim's operations. The cooperation agreement between Holcim and IUCN-Med will be in effect for 6 months (from April until September 2009) and demonstrates IUCN-Med’s commitment in advising Holcim as to how to adequately integrate ecological and social aspects in the final restoration process of the Torredonjimeno quarry situated in the town of Jamilena.

The agreement has an 18,000 euro budget which will primarily go towards the technical advisory project for carrying out the Comprehensive Restoration Plan of this quarry.

In order to be able to realize this Plan, staff from IUCN-Med and expert partners will visit the Holcim quarry in Jamilena within the next few weeks to carry out field work. Following this, experts in the restoration of mining sites linked with IUCN-Med will propose courses of action for how to adequately integrate ecological aspects in order to guide Holcim in developing a General Restoration Plan which could serve as framework of reference for this work at national level. The Plan also envisages carrying out surveys with people living in the towns close to the aforementioned quarry in order to find out what needs and worries/issues they have regarding the restoration of the surroundings. On the one hand, the final aim of all of these actions is to ensure that all parties involved in the restoration of this quarry are aware of the current and future process and participate in this to share their ideas and views on the matter.

The agreement between Holcim and IUCN-Med also includes the collaboration of the latter in the publication of a book about La Gravera El Puente in Seseña (Toledo), which analyses the work to restore the natural surroundings and the contribution to biodiversity which could be achieved if the mining sites are well restored and monitored.