The European ROTATE Project, funded by the European Commission and coordinated by ANEFA, has published the Guide to Biodiversity Indicators for Quarrying and Mining Sites: 2024 Data Report, a practical and scientifically robust framework designed to support biodiversity assessment and management at quarrying and mining sites across Europe.
Developed in collaboration with Aggregates Europe (AE) and the Spanish Aggregates Federation (FdA), the Guide reflects the active role of the aggregates sector in advancing biodiversity knowledge and management. The methodology, jointly developed by the University of Liège, ANEFA and Fundación Tormes-EB, combines scientific expertise with the practical experience of the extractive industry to provide a biodiversity indicator system specifically adapted to quarrying and mining sites.
The framework provides a harmonised set of biodiversity indicators that can be applied progressively while remaining practical for quarry personnel. The Guide addresses key aspects such as restoration planning, protected areas, habitat diversity, habitat and species monitoring, biodiversity management tools, and the presence of protected species and European IUCN Red List taxa.
It also provides practical recommendations and examples of good practices, helping quarrying and mining operators monitor biodiversity performance, identify opportunities for improvement and integrate biodiversity considerations into site management and restoration.
Through this initiative, ROTATE and the European aggregates sector are contributing to a common and harmonised knowledge base on biodiversity, supporting biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and informed environmental decision-making across Europe.
To learn more about the methodology, results and recommendations, you can consult and download the Guide in English, Spanish, French and German. In addition, the corresponding Executive Summaries have been published in English, Spanish, French and German.
