CEMEX appoints biodiversity advisor

As part of building solutions company CEMEX's corporate partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Sam Tarrant has been appointed as an advisor. Sam will support the CEMEX in its development of a national biodiversity strategy, and provide specialist advice and assistance with restoration plans for some of the company's many quarries. Sam was appointed after completing his PhD at the The University of Northampton's School of Applied Sciences, where he studied the conservation of flower-visiting insects on restored landfill sites. He also has a BSc Hons in Marine Environmental Science, and is enthusiastic about his new role:

CEMEX is one of the leading cement and aggregate providers, and as a large landowner, creating an innovative biodiversity strategy has the potential to influence the creation of a significant contribution towards biodiversity enhancement. A number of CEMEX sites have great potential to benefit our ecological landscape, providing vital habitats for plants, native insects and birds. Within an increasing number of agricultural and urban landscapes these sites are the last havens of wildlife and as such they need developing in the best way."

The appointment marks a strengthening of CEMEX's involvement with the RSPB, which has a track record spanning several decades at former quarry sites, such as Denge Quarry in Kent. In 2007, CEMEX signed a global Memorandum of Understanding with Birdlife International. This involves a 10-year partnership for BirdLife's counsel, advice and expertise that will be integrated into the management of over 400 quarry sites operated by CEMEX around the world. The Birdlife International partner in the UK is Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB); and so this complementary relationship is intended to help drive CEMEX's improvement of its biodiversity management at a more local level.

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