Limestone quarry restoration

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Objective

Recultivation of the quarry with the objective of creating unique nature and increase biodiversity.

Context

In 1926 ENCI Maastricht started extracting limestone and producing cement in an area close to the city of Maastricht and adjacent the river ¨Maas¨. Limestone was, at that time, more or less extracted by digging into the mountain at a level equal to the adjusting river level and creating space for the production facilities and their extension throughout the years. At some point in time extraction of limestone was officially limited to a well-defined quarry area, located behind the production area. In this quarry area limestone extraction is limited to a depth of approximately 40 meters below the local groundwater level. The quarry is now, with the production site, close to the river. Groundwater is pumped out of the quarry to make extraction possible. At the moment extraction is concentrated in the yellow area up to the original level of the mountain, approximately 60 meters above groundwater.

Solutions

For many years ENCI Maastricht has been conscious of recultivation and nature development in and around the quarry. The original quarry land use was agriculture. Trees have been planted by ENCI in areas bordering the quarry - these areas have since upgraded to areas with special and unique nature development, increasing biodiversity in the area. Nature development has been so successful in those areas, that the whole area surrounding the quarry is officially a nature protected area and has been appointed as a Natura 2000 area. In addition, some parts within the original quarry have already been restored, and some of these have been already handed over to a nature protection organisation.

As a result the steep slopes created a habitat for the eagle owl. Another area, due to extraction below ground water level, has been restored as a wet area, creating a habitat for special species. The philosophy behind this approach was to recultivate the areas as soon as possible in order to show to the community the unique possibilities for recultivation and biodiversity creation.

Results

ENCI organises tours of the quarry with specially trained guides from a local nature organisation. A special brochure was also produced explaining the existing nature values as a result of the extraction of limestone and the unique future possibilities. Numerous studies have been performed on existing nature values in and around the quarry as well as on the impact of quarrying and production activities on these values. All kinds of nature protection organisations are given the opportunity and support to study specific nature values and species in and around the quarry, creating a good relation with nature protection organisations.