Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft

Objective

High and sheer rock walls with a free access belong to the favored breeding locations of the eagle owl (Bubo bubo). These location factors are inherently rare, so that quarries constitute important secondary habitats for the endangered owl.

Context

For decades, in the Dorndorf quarry of the Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft, basalt has been mined and processed to aggregates and constructing materials for the building industry in a crusher and processing plant.

At least since 1991, a couple of owls have been breeding regularly with success in the quarry of Dorndorf. Therefore, the active quarry has been assimilated as a component of the bird sanctuary DE 5414-450 in the network Natura 2000.

Solution

For the protection of the eagle owl there is no blasting from approx. March to June (from incubation till departure of the nests by the females) in the production wall, where the nests are located. Besides the normal mining activities the eagle owl is not disturbed.

Result

During the life-span of the plant the breeding-ground is being protected. The Dorndorf example shows that it is possible for industry and nature-protection to coexist. The precondition for this is the knowledge of and consideration for the needs of the eagle owl.