Environmental reclamation of quarrying sites

Environments and habitats are reclaimed at each quarrying site at the same time as it is being actively exploited through a series of operations including filling voids with natural soil, water controlling, grass seeding, and trees and shrubs planting.

The main objectives to reclaim a quarrying site are:
•  To stabilize the quarry face by appropriately reshaping its morphology;
•  To reshape the area and integrate it into the surrounding landscape using native plantings and soils;
•  To reclaim and stabilize the habitats introducing as biological and morphological diversity as possible;
•  To enhance the most of the reclaimed area by repurposing the entire site or part of it for agricultural or community activities, making it available to the public for nature, educational, scientific and recreational purposes.

Morfasso (PC)		Castellazzo Bormida (AL)
Robilante (CN)		Sant'Albano Stura (CN)

 

Buzzi Unicem collaborates with environmental associations such as LIPU, LEGAMBIENTE, Cuneo Birding and other local stakeholders to optimally design, develop and integrate the reclaiming operations. These synergies have resulted in the repurposing of these sites for nature, educational, tourism-recreational, cultural and sporting purposes.

 

A few reclaiming examples for recreational purposes:

• Oasi La Madonnina (Sant’Albano Stura – CN) (La Madonnina Oasis)

An oasis consisting of two shallow-water lakes surrounded by inviting riparian vegetation that accommodates hundreds of migratory or resident birds and hundreds of visitors each year (enthusiasts such as birdwatchers, photographers and families). The oasis is now a benchmark among the major sites of its type for the variety of bird sightings.

 

• Oasi Botanico Ricreativa Ceretto (Carignano – TO) (Ceretto Recreational Botanical Oasis)

This site, which is still an active quarry, hosts educational activities and workshops focused on scientific and nature topics, as well as interesting walks along the nature trail that winds around the quarry lake among lowland woods and the shore.

 

 Laghi di pesca sportiva (Castellazzo Bormida – AL e Scansano – GR) (Recreational fishing lakes)

Two deep-water lakes now used by recreational fishing enthusiasts, where people can enjoy sport, quality time and nature.

 

Our collaborations

 

Project Pra da smens whit University of Study of Turin

The project has been conceived to start a high biodiversity autochthonous herbal seeds production chain in Piedmont. According to the European guidelines and the Italian regulations, they are named “preservation seeds” (EU Directive 2010/60/UE and D.Lgs. n. 148/2012). According the regional regulations, they are named “autochthonous local seeds” (vtr “Conservation measures for Piedmont Rete Natura 2000 tutoring, DGR 54-7409/14). Seeds are worth for anti-erosion grassing operations, productive operations and environmental works such as technical grassing, meadows fixing, grazing land grassing, vegetated safety areas, etc.. The production chain has been organized in order to minimize the mediators. The autochthonous seeds cost will thereinafter be cost effective compared with the most common seeds on the market. The goal is to create a website of the production sites (i.e. certificated natural or semi-natural meadows where it’ll be allowed to collect seeds). The website will directly connect the potential clients (ski plants, green enterprises, quarries, etc.) to the seeds producers (legally allowed to run the production sites). Such a website could be considered a sort of “autochthonous online seeds catalogue”.

Buzzi Unicem joins the project by making the Robilante and Fossano mining sites (Roaschia, Gavota-Noisa and Santo Stefano quarries) available for experimental purpouses.