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Pilot Action A.13

Using Public Recognition for Private Land Conservation

Short summary of the mechanism

The pilot action will investigate the potential of using peer or public recognition as an incentive for private landowners to engage in conservation activities. It will use the example of the IMAEurope Biodiversity Award (held for the first time in 2016) and investigate its effectiveness to motivate private landowners from the mining and quarrying business sector to engage in conservation measures which go beyond what they are obliged to do by law or by the conditions of their exploitation permits.

Description/objective of the model/tool

The IMA-Europe Recognition Award is much valued as a token of recognition of outstanding industry projects. It aims at promoting best practices and as such enhance the image and social acceptance of the minerals sector.  The Award is linked to EU policy objectives, supporting notably the EU Biodiversity Strategy and EU Action Plan for People, Nature and the Economy, as well as the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials.

Implementation mechanism and process

IMA-Europe sends out a Call for Applications to its members and publishes the Call on its website. The submitted applications are assessed by the Secretariat for completeness and then submitted to the independent Jury for voting. The Award Projects will be promoted at the Award exhibition and through online and print communication channels. The Award winner receives a symbolic token of recognition at the Award Ceremony taking place around the IMA Europe biannual conference.

Stakeholders involved

IMA-Europe, national associations, companies, Jury Members (academia, NGOs, EU institutions, media), European Commission, related sectors

Timeframe

01.07.2017-31.07.2020

Scale
site-specific
Is the tool/model already being applied in another region? If so, where? How? Since when?

Biodiversity Awards are already applied within the minerals sector and beyond to recognise and promote outstanding projects. Examples worth mentioning are the “Restoration and Biodiversity Awards” successfully applied at national level by the Mineral Products Association in the UK in partnership with Natural England. Or the Biodiversity Awards by the European Aggregates Sector, the Quarry Life Award issued by the HeidelbergCement Group and the European Awards issued by the European Commission.

How much land is already conserved by the tool/model?

We have no data at European level as to how much land from quarrying has been restored into nature area. The mpa though has figures for the UK (…).

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Project partner responsible for its implementation

IMA Europe
rue des Deux Eglises 26 box 2 (6° floor)
1000 Brussels
Belgium