Ecosystems in need of protection

Ecosystems are dynamic sets of plant, animal, micro-organism communities and their non-living environment, interconnected by a cyclical flow of materials and energy. According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, an in-depth study coordinated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), human activity in the last 50 years has led to changes in ecosystems which have been greater and faster than during any other period of history, with a significant and largely irreversible loss of biological diversity. Experts warn that for companies, the impairment of ecosystems will soon be an issue as important as that of climate change, which is one of its causes.

People need stably functioning ecosystems in order to survive – as do companies! They closely depend on them, whether for their natural resource requirements (wood, nourishment, plants, ore, water, etc.) or for their ecological regulation function (air, water and soil purification, pollination, etc.). However, companies are also among those directly or indirectly responsible for their degradation.

Protecting the primary forest in Bahia

Since 2003, Michelin has carried out work at the Bahia rubber plantation within the framework of the Ouro Verde (“Green Gold”) project to preserve primary Atlantic forest, badly threatened by deforestation. At the outset of the project, three plots of primary Atlantic forest, with a total surface area of 800 hectares offering exceptional biodiversity, were located on the plantation. Michelin purchased an additional 550 ha plot and created 1,650 ha of ecological “corridors” linking the plots by planting native species between the rows of rubber trees. This environmental reserve now totals 3,000 ha. This operation is the world’s first experience of species enrichment in a rubber plantation. As a result, an unbroken area of Atlantic Forest should be re-established within the next 20 years.

The reserve is managed by a team of scientists lead by a Doctor of Ecology and Evolution and has a 35,000-unit tree nursery created using the seeds from 100 different native species. It is an ideal observation ground for the scientific community as well as for visitors, who enjoy educational walking trails. The Biodiversity Study Center provides scientists from around the world with a huge open-air laboratory on the Atlantic Forest. The Center can host 29 researchers and is fully equipped for their work. Michelin contributes financially to some of the research work, including 36 studies into biodiversity which are currently underway.

The local community has not been forgotten: the Get to know the Atlantic Forest program aims to increase awareness of ecological issues among the local communities with guided tours of the reserve and excursions for local schools. Visitors can find detailed information on the local ecosystem at the Michelin Center for Environmental Resources.

The W.A.I.T. program in North America

In the United States, Michelin participates in the Wildlife And Industry Together (W.A.I.T.) program which encourages the adoption of measures for the protection of wildlife habitats on land owned by companies. The testing center at Laurens received W.A.I.T certification in 1998, followed by Michelin Greenville research center and our Lexington, Sandy Springs and Starr plants. Employees volunteer to take part in initiatives like the creation of a “Carolina Fence”, a wooden fence typical of South Carolina which integrates local perennial botanical species and shelter for birds. Awareness initiatives on these subjects are carried out in neighboring schools.

Michelin initiatives on the Almería site

The Group experimentation center in Almería (CEMA, Centre d’Expérimentation Michelin d’Almeria) was set up in 1973 and occupies 4,500 hectares in southern Spain, of which 1,500 hectares are part of the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park. This park was created in 1987 and is located in a desert area with the lowest rainfall in Europe. It is home to very specific flora and fauna, including numerous species which are only found in this area. Since the CEMA was established, respect for the environment and integration into this special and unique setting have always been priority objectives. This experimentation center received ISO 14001 certification in 2005. Michelin ambition to contribute to responsible development around this site is expressed by several directives:

- directives for the construction of test tracks: creating “green barriers” (vegetation stabilizing the earth on embankments), canalizing rainwater to prevent erosion, filtration tanks directing rainwater toward the water table, planting over 300,000 trees and shrubs to avert erosion, ban on the construction of tracks on the protected zone;

- directives for carrying our tests: developing fuel efficient test methods, research project with the aim of reducing emissions and waste;

- general directives: integrating environmental measures in annual progress plans, undertaking studies on minimizing industrial waste, run-off water treatment and reuse for watering the tracks.

These initiatives have allowed, for example, the preservation of a 500-year-old specimen of Dracaena Draco, a tree which originates in the Canary Islands and is located on our land.

Assessing the impact of ecosystems in the vicinity of the sites

In order to assess the relations between ecosystems and Michelin industrial activity, in 2008 in our Nyiregyhaza plant in Hungary, the ESR (Ecosystem Services Review) has been tested, developed by the World Resources Institute, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Meridian Institute. This method aims at identifying the risks and opportunities for companies regarding foreseeable changes in ecosystem balance.

The assessment was carried out by a Michelin engineer who took part in the WBCSD Future Leaders Team program, with the help of a Group environment specialist and the support of the plant’s managers. This initial study demonstrated clearly and in a structured manner the link between ecosystems and the plant, particularly as regards air and water. Michelin aim is to progressively deploy the method on other sites.

Categories: Climate change - Sustainable mobility

Keyword: Brazil