MPA Restoration Awards and Natural England Biodiversity Awards 2011

The UK’s mineral products industry has a big opportunity to build on its proven land restoration legacy and take full advantage of its unique potential to help halt the worrying decline in UK biodiversity.

This important event celebrated achievement, charted the way forward and shared best practice through the MPA Restoration Awards and Natural England Biodiversity Awards. The event took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 October at The Royal Society, London.

MPA members represent around 90% of the entire mineral products industry and manage or control an area of land equivalent to a National Park. This includes at least two National Nature Reserves, 22 local nature reserves, 15 field study and education centres and 13 nature trails, with more planned. The RSPB estimates that the industry could, on its own, deliver UK biodiversity targets for nine out of 11 priority habitats. The potential is substantial and the mineral products industry is uniquely placed to help Government achieve its biodiversity targets.

Further industry figures which were stressed at the event are:

• The industry is leading the way in restoring the population of the previously declining bittern by “hosting” 15 per cent of the UK’s breeding pairs in reed beds created following quarrying
• Operators are now routinely creating, and committing to long-term management of threatened habitats, making a significant contribution to delivering national and local biodiversity action plan targets. Examples include:
  • Lowland heathland - home to rare and threatened species like the nightjar, smooth snake and sand lizard.
  • Reed beds – home to bitterns, water voles, marsh harriers and Desmoulin’s whorl snail.
  • Lowland acid grassland – home to stone curlews and field crickets.
  • Ponds – home to a wide range of invertebrates, and amphibians such as natterjack toads and great crested newts.
• MPA members have planted a million trees in the last five years as part of their planned operational and restoration activities. This is a significant achievement and mirrors the Government’s own aspirations for the next four to five years.
• MPA members have planted 57 km (36 miles) of hedgerows in the last five years.
• MPA members have built 21 km (13 miles) of dry stone walls in the last five years (2006-2010).
• MPA members are also putting in place monitoring and reporting procedures to better measure what is being achieved.
• The marine aggregate sector is leading other marine industries with its pioneering biodiversity work around the UK coastline.
  

Videos from the event are available below:

• Highlights of the MPA Biodiversity Event 2011
• Interviews with Key Speakers on at the Event
• Speech by Helen Phillips, Chief Executive Natural England
• More footage which was shown at the event, including of the winning sites, can be seen on our YouTube Channel here
  

MPA Restoration Awards Winners

Natural England Biodiversity Awards Winners