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UltraTech recognises that our business can have an impact on the local ecology where we operate and is aware of the important role it must play in protecting biodiversity and the ecosystem.
Governed by our Biodiversity policy, UltraTech is committed to maximize biodiversity around its plants and quarry sites under various biodiversity management initiatives. The Company has started monitoring the ecological evolution of its sites to help identify risks and opportunities. We are also committed to No Net loss which is in line with the Aditya Birla Group Biodiversity Policy. UltraTech has so far undertaken biodiversity assessment for fifteen of its sites. UltraTech has committed to conduct biodiversity assessment for all its Integrated Units by end of 2024. The Company is intensely moving towards achieving this target. Post completion of assessment, biodiversity management plan (BMP) is formulated to implement the recommendations from assessment. We have constituted BMP for 12 units. Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) has been established at five of our locations to oversee the implementation of the recommendations from BMPs. We are working towards formulating the BMCs at all locations as we work towards implementing the BMP.
UltraTech has collaborated with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to create a scientific and systematic approach towards biodiversity management. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
UltraTech's engagement with IUCN has evolved from the ground level through its unit Sewagram Cement Works (SCW) in Gujarat and at the corporate level to develop policies and technical standards to ground level comprehensive assessment and data collection at four more units.
The sites are selected based on the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool report which we have used for initial screening of all our units. We have identified the sites which are high in biodiversity and a comprehensive Biodiversity Management Plan is being prepared for these sites.
In 2017, UltraTech entered into an agreement with IUCN for developing a detailed biodiversity and ecosystem services management plan for Sewagram Cement Works (SCW) located in Gujarat. IUCN carried out a comprehensive baseline assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services in and around SCW's area of operations. The results from the biodiversity assessment were used to develop a robust Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the unit. The BMP includes a suite of measures designed to avoid, minimise, rectify, and/or compensate for impacts to biodiversity resulting from the development and operations of the cement unit and mines area. Native nursery development, on-site thorn forest habitat development and restoration of grasslands are some of the biodiversity projects implemented at SCW over the years.
Over the next few years, UltraTech will work towards implementing the measures identified under the biodiversity management plans at all the integrated units.
In parallel, UltraTech plans to create awareness amongst value chain partners on biodiversity and related ecosystem services. The status of their work towards biodiversity conservation is being assessed through self-assessed questionnaire. Actions are planned and taken based on the identified areas.
UltraTech will continue to engage through industry-level platforms such as Leaders for Nature (LfN) to enhance awareness and contribute towards dissemination of biodiversity related information and knowledge.
We are working together with the external agencies to create a scientific and systematic approach towards biodiversity management.
Our engagement with agencies has evolved through the organisation’s involvement at several Integrated units. At the corporate level, we are collaborating with Terracon & Green Future Foundation for comprehensive assessment and data collection at various units.
The sites were selected through the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool, which was used to screen all our units. The identified sites need prompt intervention, and a comprehensive Biodiversity Management Plan is being prepared for them.