Buzzi Unicem USA is pleased to announce that the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has awarded Buzzi Unicem USA two certifications under their wildlife improvement programs. The WHC Wildlife at Work certification, recognizing programs that create, conserve, and restore wildlife habitats on corporate lands, was awarded to the Cape Girardeau, MO plant for their efforts in assisting the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in restoring the population of alligator gar fish in eastern Missouri. The WHC Corporate Lands for Learning certification, recognizing programs that promote innovative teaching and learning techniques and provide opportunities for community members to get involved in conservation efforts, was awarded to the Stockertown, PA plant for their creation of an open air laboratory designed to enhance the education of local high school students.

The Cape Girardeau plant partnered with the MDC to restore a lost piece of Missouri natural history through reestablishment of the alligator gar species and creation of a self-sustaining gar population. The focus of the reestablishment efforts is Marquette North Lake, a reclaimed, 150-acre, former clay pit at the plant that was being used only for recreational fishing by employees. The alligator gar research completed on this property has provided valuable insight into the movement patterns and dietary preferences that have proven useful when forming alligator gar management plans and goals. Through the research and management efforts, the otherwise dormant clay pit has been transformed into a thriving habitat for the gar and many other species of fish and birds.

The Stockertown plant took a nearly three-mile, virtually dormant stretch of land along the Bushkill Creek that had been impacted by local industry for nearly a century, and transformed it into an area flourishing with new native flora and fauna for use as an open air laboratory by local students. Natural habitats have been restored on this property and learning stations have been erected. Safe public access to the Creek and newly created trails have also been established for use by community members and local schools. Plant employees teach students about the relationships and interactions between a heavy manufacturing facility and the surrounding environment, and the open air laboratory allows students to relate classroom learning to external applications through planned experiments.