Enhancing biodiversity through quarry restoration

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Objective

Identify the most interesting habitats and species and help accelerate their presence on restored land through restoration management.
Education: taking advantage of the quality of the environment, the size of the quarry and its situation close to two big cities to encourage environmental awareness raising.
Use the designated area for family cross-country cycling for employees and neighbours.

Context

The quarry extends over more than 200 hectares. It consists of rich but shallow limestone. The climate in this part of Spain is semi-continental. The semi-arid hills are mostly dominated by bushes and olive trees. The quarry environment is characterised by Thyme and Alfa-grass fields and with Kermes Oaks bushes. Two endemic protected species of the Iberian peninsula (Limonium tolentanum and Gypsophila bermejoi) are present in the surrounding habitats.

The quarry has been active since the early 1970's and careful monitoring of fauna and flora on rehabilitated areas and surrounding environment has been conducted for the last 5/7 years. Professor Santiago Sardinero of the University of Castilla La Mancha has studied the environment with his colleagues in the botany department. They have tracked the natural succession on restored ground, enabling the understanding of the conditions and ages of the habitats, and the way they can be re-created thanks to the careful restoration of the quarry.

Solutions

The quarry restoration involves:

monitoring of the history of natural recolonisation,
evaluating the conditions of success of the most interesting habitats,
encouraging these opportunities for biodiversity through management of the earth moving operations of restoration.

Results

The results that have been brought about include:

observation of some of the targeted habitats and species on the quarry ground (two of the protected endemic species are already decolonising the quarry)
a powerful scientific research program on natural succession in arid limestone areas
a milestone for Lafarge quarries which will help in the achievement of high biodiversity areas within other restoration programs
creation of a botanical and bird field observation track on the quarry,
creation of a larger cycling circuit, including posters stops and observation points,
building of a visitors and education center,
return of bees and the production of honey
school packages and guided visits designed with the University.

Partners

The University of Castilla La Mancha - WWF Spain - the local cross country cycling association and a firm of ecological restoration engineers who work for the National Parks in Spain