Lafarge Poland

Objective

The prevailing of the local landscape through the innovative restoration and the biodiversity approach at the Sępólno Gravel extraction site.

Context

The actions of Lafarge and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences lead to the creation of an innovative method of rehabilitating mined-out land for forestry purposes. The method is dedicated for sand and gravel deposits covered with forest biocenose. The essence of the process is the appropriate management of the top soil and the use of the biomass created during the felling of the trees (stumps and branches) at a later rehabilitation stage.

Actions

The work consisted in selective deforestation, stripping of hostile overlayers, backfilling of the worked-out extraction site, spreading of humus and replanting with indigenous forestry.

Result

The maintenance of the forest characteristics of the soil, and consequently, the maintenance of biodiversity including mycorrhizal fungus and a faster forest development.

The creation of favorable refuges for reptiles.

Increasing awareness of the company's employees and subcontractors and its stakeholders of the proper rehabilitation execution with a view to biodiversity protection.

Partners

Warsaw University of Life Sciences.