Americas Materials businesses recognised by Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC)
At CRH, we are working to ensure that biodiversity is managed at all our relevant locations and through collaboration efforts with stakeholders, such as the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), we are actively engaging in measures to promote biodiversity.
Our Americas Materials businesses have partnered with the WHC, a non-profit group that combines conservation and business, since 2004.
For 33 years, the WHC has been promoting and certifying ecological stewardship action on corporate lands through partnerships and education. Since only 10-15% of the world’s land surface is protected, private lands provide an essential opportunity for restoring and protecting biodiversity.
In 2021, two companies in our Americas Materials Division received WHC awards honouring excellence in corporate conservation. Dufferin Aggregates Acton Quarry in Concord, Ontario received the Reptiles & Amphibians Project Award for creating the first known man-made wetland in North America in which the endangered Jefferson salamander has successfully bred. APAC Central’s Gravette Quarry in Arkansas received the Invasive Species Project Award for removing invasive plant species from the site, allowing natural regeneration of native trees.
Across North America, we manage 16 WHC-certified wildlife habitat programmes, covering more than 3,000 acres of land across nine US states and one Canadian province. These efforts are focused on creating and maintaining habitats that complement conservation priorities relevant to the site and supporting plant and animal species native to the region.
CRH’s commitment to building successful conservation programmes is fueled by the dedication and passion of our employees and partners. In 2021, 507 Group locations were noted and managed for biodiversity. In addition, 367 of these sites were within or adjacent to sensitive areas for biodiversity. Ninety percent of these have a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) in place, which positively positions the Group towards our target of 100% of locations in sensitive areas to have a BMP in place by 2030.
