Download Conserving Biodiversity

Management
The Environment
Collaborating with Society
Conserving Biodiversity
Conserving biodiversity in the course of doing business is a material corporate issue. Our approach to conserving
biodiversity includes complying with strict legal requirements and striving to harmonize human activities with nature
while interacting with the environment and wildlife in our cement and mineral resources business.
Considering Biodiversity in Operations
▶
Investigation and Development
Operations (mining)
Post-mining (improvement of old quarry sites)
• Environmental
impact assessment
• Protection of rare animal and plant species
• Prevention of environmental disruption
• Greening quarries
• Use of old quarry sites
Recently conducted environmental
impact assessments
• Redevelopment construction of the
Fujiwara Quarry (February 2012)
A post-project survey is currently underway.
• Development construction of the Ofunato
Quarry (June 2011)
A post-project survey is currently underway.
Representative Activities
• Preservation and propagation of rare plants
at the Minowa Quarry and Fujiwara Quarry
• Prevention of noise, dust and water
pollution pursuant to laws, regulations and
local pollution control agreements
•Safeguarding wildlife pathways
•Protection of bird nesting grounds
Results of Greening
•Area of seeds sprayed: 17,000 m², tree
seedlings planted: 4,000*
*At the group limestone quarry in FY2015
Use of Old Quarry Sites
•Large-scale solar power systems business
(company-owned land: 8.5 ha)*
*Quarry sites managed by Kansai Taiheiyo
Minerals Corporation
● Environmental Impact Assessment
Cement production starts with quarrying limestone, the
primary raw material for cement. Since quarrying requires
the removal of topsoil, it has a significant impact on the
natural environment and landscape. Our quarry development
is not solely related to quarrying. We are acting with the
belief that it is important to care for the conservation of the
local ecosystem and promote the development of the local
economy.
We therefore study and implement conservation
measures to minimize environmental impact and strive
to achieve sustainable quarry
development while taking into
consideration the opinions and ideas
exchanged with the local government,
community and academics.
Aquatic life survey
● Protection of Rare Plant Species
Since 1972 we have been protecting and nurturing rare
species of native plants on Mt. Buko, the location of the
Minowa Quarry of Chichibu Taiheiyo Cement Corporation
(Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture). We created a botanical garden
at the quarry and, together with local experts and other
people, we preserve 65 native plant species there while
increasing the plant population.
Additionally, since 1995 our Central Research Laboratory
has continued to research and develop ways to preserve
and grow endangered plants, starting with primrose and
miyamasukashiyuri and then adding lady’s slipper orchid and
sanicula tuberculate Maxim in 2011, and to verify genetic
diversity of native plant species using biotechnology.
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G4-EN11, EN12, EN13, MM1, MM2
TAIHEIYO CEMENT CSR REPORT 2016
● Protection of Water Resources
In quarrying we pay close attention to protecting not only
terrestrial plants but also water resources such as spring
water in an effort to conserve biodiversity. Spring water
discharged from quarrying and rain water is directed into our
retention basin to minimize impact outside of the quarrying
area. In some quarries we drill wells for domestic water and
supply the water to local communities for everyday use.
● Greening Quarries
We are continuing our efforts to restore greenery to the
quarry slopes on step-like rock layers that are formed
during the quarrying process. We undertake these efforts
immediately after the slopes are made. We also plant
vegetation in stockyards for excavated topsoil where no
construction work is expected. Buko Mining Co., Ltd. located
in Mount Buko in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, conducts
a tree planting campaign with partner companies to improve
awareness of quarry development and the importance of
greening. In our efforts to protect ecosystems we use as
many types of native species as we can in the locations
where we plant, which are usually mountainous. All of our
quarries are still under our operation; however, once our work
there is completed our plan is to restore the areas as close as
possible to the original natural environment.
▶Key performance indicators (KPIs) in accordance with the
Guidelines on Quarry Rehabilitation developed by the
WBCSD-CSI are listed on page 66.