Jehander - HeidelbergCement

Objective

To realize a survey in order to compare the biodiversity within and outside a sand pit.

Context

Every time Jehander’s applies for an excavation permit anywhere in Sweden, we are usually met with arguments that extraction activities destroy nature, plant life and animals. Finding just a single species on the endangered species list, plant or insect, is enough to reject an excavation application. Even if an endangered species is not found, the argument remains that extraction impoverishes nature.

Solution

Biologist Jan Bergsten has counted insect species, both in the undisturbed Pålamalm forest (where we want to extract gravel and stone) and in the restored areas of the pit.

Result

There are five times as many species in the restored areas of the pit than in the undisturbed forest. And all of the species present in the forest are also found in the pit. The diversity of insects attract insect-eating birds, which in turn attract birds of prey.