Vulcan Materials Co. announced that it has received certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for its efforts to protect, enhance, and monitor wildlife and habitat restoration projects at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve.
The Vulcan-Ruffner Mountain Project is one of 44 Vulcan sites with WHC-certifications across the country. The Vulcan-Ruffner Mountain partnership began in 2002 when the employees of Vulcan’s corporate headquarters, located in Birmingham, Ala., adopted this off-site, public area and partnered with the Ruffner staff. The Wildlife Habitat Council first certified the program at Vulcan-Ruffner Mountain in 2003.
Vulcan employees volunteer regularly at the unique 1,038-acre nature preserve. To earn conservation certification, the Vulcan-Ruffner team actively manages 20 acres of the site for invasive species eradication. The team also works on habitat restoration by propagating native plants in an on-site greenhouse with raised seed beds for transplanting. Populations of cavity-nesting birds are actively managed and monitored.
Vulcan’s Ruffner Project Manager Bill Ledbetter said, “I applaud our team’s efforts to create a vibrant and productive partnership between corporate, non-profit and community volunteers to work on protecting wildlife and native habitat in Birmingham.”
Ruffner Mountain’s Land Conservation Manager Jamie Nobles said, “We at Ruffner have worked for many years to improve habitat quality on the mountain. The partnership we share with Vulcan Materials is essential to advance our efforts in restoring the natural mountain ecology of Ruffner Mountain, as well as to improve community involvement.”
And in North Carolina . . .
Vulcan Materials also achieved WHC Conservation Certification at two North Carolina quarries. Vulcan was honored for its wildlife habitat at the Pineville Quarry in Charlotte, N.C.
The quarry produces construction aggregates for use in the local market for commercial and public construction projects. More than 50 acres are managed for active habitat projects such as a butterfly pollinator garden, bluebird and other songbird and avian habitats. The site also includes grasslands, floodplain forest and wetlands that are home to many native wildlife and plants.
The Pineville Quarry has been a certified habitat site since 1993 and plays an important role for wildlife habitats in the growing urban environment of the Charlotte region.
“The Pineville Quarry is one of 177 programs recognized this year as meeting the strict requirements of WHC Conservation Certification,” said Margaret O’Gorman, president, WHC. “Companies achieving WHC Conservation Certification, like Vulcan Materials, are environmental leaders, voluntarily managing their lands to support sustainable ecosystems and the communities that surround them.”
Vulcan also achieved certification for its wildlife habitat at the Hendersonville Quarry in Hendersonville, N.C.
The Hendersonville Quarry has had an established certified wildlife program since 1995 and added an educational component in 2001. There are 30 acres of forest on the property that are home to multiple native plants and a variety of wildlife including native birds and mammals.
A 1,200-sq.-ft. learning center is located on the property as well as a mile of nature trails. The quarry produces construction aggregates for use in the local market for commercial and public construction projects.
The staff is involved in providing tours and demonstrations that show the important connection between industry and the environment. The grounds and trails are maintained to allow the visitors to enjoy the forest while still maintaining a natural forest landscape.
“We are proud of our employees’ efforts to demonstrate our company’s commitment to environmental stewardship in the communities in which we operate,” said Martin Thorpe, president of Vulcan’s Mideast Division. “Well-managed environmental stewardship programs and partnerships such as those at our Pineville Quarry and Hendersonville Quarry benefit us all.””
The Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC Conservation Certification programs take corporate sustainability goals and objectives and translate them into tangible and measurable on-the-ground actions.
Through a focus on building collaboration for conservation with corporate employees, other conservation organizations, government agencies and community members, WHC programs focus on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states, the District of Columbia and 13 countries.