7th August 2001

Email this Page |

Europe's industrial zones are secret gardens of endangered flowers and animals, according to a top University of Ulster environmental research team.

The Biodiversity Action on Industrial Sites programme (BAIS) has been examining the eco-systems of industrial zones across Europe for the past three years - and has discovered that nature is blooming in the most unlikely of places.

Many indigenous species that have vanished in the surrounding areas, due to urbanisation or modern agriculture, have found a haven of peace and tranquillity behind the fences of industry, says project co-ordinator Graham Nevin.

"We have demonstrated that industrial sites contain significant reserves of biodiversity: they have a uniquely broad range of plants and the animals that go with them. One reason for the survival of this kind of rich tapestry of flora and fauna is that they have been protected from

modern farming practices" he said.

In its researches, the team has found:

• A family of otters has established a holt at the oil loading
  terminal at Tarbert Power station in the Shannon estuary:


• Over 25 kinds of dragonfly buzz at Du Pont Asturias, Spain:


• Skylarks, linnets, yellowhammers and falcons thrive at Texaco's Pembroke oil refinery:


• Rare bee orchids flourish at sites across Europe


• Nesting ringed plovers breed at Du Pont Maydown

Increasingly, Mr Nevin said, industry is becoming aware of its role in enhancing and preserving the biodiversity of its host location. And the UU team has developed a series of Europe-wide guidelines to help companies in their stewardship of the continent's biodiversity.

"We have put together a series of protocols, accredited by the Countryside Council for Wales, which companies across Europe will be able to use to ensure the structured management of the biodiversity of their sites. There's also a new software tool to guide and monitor the process," he said.

University of Ulster Lecturers Mr Graham Nevin and DrAlan Cooper will be hosting their first Northern Ireland reporting session on the 17th August, in Belfast's Holiday Inn, where the environmental management plan for Black Mountain Quarry , will be discussed. The quarry, which overlooks west Belfast, is owned by project partners Lagan Holdings

" We've looked at the biodiversity potential of the site, and developed strategies for Lagan to protect and enhance them as part of their quarry management programme. These strategies will then be rolled out to other sites in the group," said Mr Nevin.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk