High Tech Campus Eindhoven

Action

The Campus has taken part in a pool adoption project which was initiated by the Municipality of Eindhoven, “Stichting Stadsnatuur” and “Milieu Educatie Centrum”. The project involves primary schools and institutes for green vocational training, which have “adopted” some pools on the Campus and are helping to manage them. The aim of the project is to improve the natural habitat for amphibians in the Campus and throughout the Dommel valley.

Before The Campus did not possess a record of the biodiversity present in its green areas. Its approach to managing the areas was that less intensive management enables green spaces to become more natural.

Now The natural habitat for amphibians throughout the Dommel valley has improved. An increased number of amphibian species have been spotted since the pools are being properly maintained.

• www.countdown2010.net/partnerid?id=994
• www.hightechcampus.nl
• High Tech Campus Eindhoven and sustainability: www.hightechcampus.nl/go/pages/about_the_campus#/article/sustainability
• The Campus surroundings: www.hightechcampus.nl/go/pages/photos#/photo/photo/8

Photo: Dommel Valley at the Campus © High Tech Campus Eindhoven

Photo: Serra de Monchique (Monchique Mountains) in Portugal © AmBioDiv

Heidelberg Zoo

Action

Heidelberg Zoo has reintroduced more than 100 hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) which has helped the population grow in Germany. The Zoo’s experts also work to save nearly 100km² of rainforest containing the most valuable populations of primates in Africa including; the last Roloway Monkeys, the largest population of White-neaped Mangabeys and also some Mis Waldrons Red Colobuses, which are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM.

Before Not many people knew about the declining status of European hamsters. And in the Upper Guinean Forest, local communities were not involved in the protection of primate populations.

Now The local community in Germany is now aware of the worrying extinction of European hamsters and in particular farmers have started to take action to save them. In Ghana and Ivory Coast, local communities residing by forests are also actively participating in primate conservation. This area is now designated to become a community-managed area.

• www.wapca.org

Photo: needed!! ©

Photo: Serra de Monchique (Monchique Mountains) in Portugal © AmBioDiv

Grupo Empresarial de Obras Civiles

Action

According to the Group’s Policy of Quality, Environment and Prevention of Labour Risks, the company’s main objective is to control infrastructure construction processes to ensure best quality to their customers. At the same time, the Group works to prevent and minimize the environmental impacts generated by the company’s activities and to ensure an adequate safety and health control of all people involved. The company has implemented a special integrated management system for quality, environment and prevention of labour risks during the construction processes.

Training and raising awareness of the environment among the company’s personnel is a fundamental action of the Group. Besides other activities, the Group has also strengthened waste management techniques to control the waste generated on the company’s construction sites, including a special treatment for hazardous waste. Waste deposit and disposal has been properly controlled and monitored in the assigned areas.

Before The Group’s activities and their influence on biodiversity were not controlled and special attention to environmental education for the company’s employees was needed. Without proper control and trained employees, construction work may degrade the environment and subsequently affect biodiversity.

Now As a small company, raising awareness of the environment among personnel has brought local benefits. Step by step, the Group has worked towards becoming a leader in the field. This has enabled other enterprises and entities to follow the Group’s good example to the benefit of biodiversity conservation.

• www.countdown2010.net/partnerid?id=858
• www.grupocivil.com

Photo: needed!!

Photo: Serra de Monchique (Monchique Mountains) in Portugal © AmBioDiv