How Holcim has adopted the Biodiversity Management System Recommendations
BMS Implementation
Background
IUCN and Holcim began working together in 2007with the aim of strengthening biodiversity management within Holcim’s operations.One of the key outcomes of the engagement is recommendations for a Biodiversity Management System (BMS) by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP). The principal purpose of the IEP’s work was to propose a system for including biodiversity systematically in all planning and operational processes. The recommendations encompassed policy, project planning, site operations, and closure planning.
Integrate biodiversity into existing business processes
Holcim has accepted and adopted the Panel recommendations. Rather than create a separate process and system, Holcim embedded the appropriate biodiversity considerations into the existing tools and processes. Relevant existing guidelines were updated and where needed, new guidance was published.
The resulting BMS framework encompasses the entire site lifecycle, from exploration of a new site, developing the project through to site operations, rehabilitation and closure.
Policy Level
Revised Environmental Policy–In January 2011, Holcim issued a revised environmental policy which includes seeking opportunities to protect, restore and enhance biodiversityon and around our extraction sites. The policy can be found on the Holcim website (
New Biodiversity Directive–Tosupport this commitment and the implementation of the BMS, an internal biodiversity directive was issued at the same time as the revised environmental policy. The directive addresses the following:
- Compliance with applicable legal requirements
- Application of the Holcim Biodiversity Management System
- Decisions based on up to date information
- Biodiversity considerations for new site development
- Biodiversity management at existing sites
- Consideration of the natural environment in restoration
- Partnerships
- Monitoring and Reporting
- Transparency
Planning Cycle
Biodiversity considerations in the site planning stage focus on identifying potential biodiversity risks that could have a significant impact on the project and identifying strategies for avoidance or mitigation and opportunities for biodiversity enhancements. Existing project management tools were updated to incorporate these considerations.
Operation Cycle
For existing operations, a risk based approach is taken to determine the level of biodiversity management needed at sites.Site biodiversity management is closely linked to quarry rehabilitation and closure planning.A separate guidance document for site biodiversity management was published in January 2011. The riskclassification is based upon 2 criteria: biodiversity importance of the site (onsite or adjacent), and the impact as illustrated below. For sites that have global or national biodiversity importance and impact is medium or greater, then a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is required. Holcim has established a target of 80% of these sensitive sites to have a BAP in place by 2013.
Holcim uses its existing annual environmental questionnaire to classify biodiversity risk of site and determine level of biodiversity management needed. All extraction sites now report on biodiversity risk and related management. The questionnaire is also used to track progress of implementation of BAPs.
BMS Implementation in second engagement with IUCN
To support implementation of the BMS, Holcim and IUCN are working together to implement the BMS by raise awareness of the BMS, provide training, and supporting local collaboration for site implementation. For additional information on the second agreement, see separate fact sheet: “The IUCN-Holcim Relationship Continues”.
BMS Implementation