Employees at Lafarge North America received recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) 13th Annual Symposium, Science & Stewardship: Creating Greener Communities. Lafarge demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and increasing native biodiversity by achieving certification at its Alpena and Paulding plants.

One of the largest cement plants in North America and the largest for Lafarge, the Alpena, Mich., facility is surrounded by 600 acres of land. It has been in operation since 1908. In 1995, the plant significantly reduced its consumption of virgin natural resources used as raw material in the cement manufacturing process, replacing them with waste from other industries. Thus practicing industrial ecology by the substitution of industrial waste as raw material, Lafarge demonstrates its commitment to balancing stewardship of the environment with societal needs and corporate goals.

Approximately 100 acres are available at the Alpena site for wildlife habitat enhancement projects. To encourage restoration of freshwater ecosystems at the site, the wildlife team worked with a retiree group to stock the quarry pond for sport fishing and cultivation of various fish species. Employees improved on-site food resources for deer and other wildlife by providing native grasses for grassland bird species and other wildlife. Future plans at the site include partnering with local community and employee groups to place and monitor nest boxes and planting wildflower gardens to improve site aesthetics and provide habitat for pollinators.

The wildlife team at the Paulding, Ohio, facility manages 255 acres of the 1,164-acre site to improve existing habitats and create new ones in order to attract and maintain a varied population of plant, animal, and insect species. A 27.6-acre pheasant habitat is currently under development through the cooperative efforts of the wildlife team and the local chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Sixty-seven acres of the facility are closed residual waste landfills maintained as grassland habitats. The team is also creating on site a wildflower habitat and a migratory insect habitat, which is complemented by 17 bluebird nest boxes. Future plans at the facility include establishing a wetland area, building a wildlife education center and beginning a Corporate Lands for Learning program.

Both sites were among 111 sites recognized at the 2001 Symposium. Since 1990, WHC has certified 288 sites worldwide. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal. The certified wildlife habitat programs focus on restoration, creation, protection and enhancement of habitat and individual species management by establishing Wildlife at Work programs. Corporate sites that have an active environmental education program can become certified for Corporate Lands for Learning.