Holistic biodiversity management in the building materials industry: strategies and measures to protect biodiversity in the context of raw material extraction

The project focuses on the conservation and promotion of biodiversity in extraction sites of the building materials industry. The central objective is the development of systematic biodiversity monitoring based on local conditions. It provides the basis for developing and improving the biodiversity management of companies and their business practices.

The project aims to preserve and promote biodiversity in the quarrying sites of the building materials industry. The extraction of raw materials necessary for the manufacture of their products is associated with considerable encroachments in the ecosystem. Nevertheless, the extraction sites can also provide valuable habitats for animals and plants once the extraction of raw materials is complete. In order for companies to take suitable measures to exploit this potential, they first need a thorough understanding of the changes and development of biodiversity in their extraction areas.

The central goal is therefore the development of systematic biodiversity monitoring based on local conditions. It provides the basis for developing and improving the biodiversity management of companies and their business practices.

With the involvement of industry associations and nature conservation organizations as key stakeholder groups, a sector-specific management concept is to be developed through comparative site studies of the partner companies’ extraction sites and the transfer potential beyond the sector is to be analyzed.

In the spirit of citizen science, citizens who are involved in nature conservation are also to be included in the monitoring via the platform, naturgucker.de. An industry dialog is aimed at industry-wide, binding agreements regarding the introduction of biodiversity management in companies. Studies on the transferability of the monitoring concept to other sectors and regions are intended to promote the dissemination of good practices.