Business Eco
Plan to preserve wildlife in industrial heartlands
A CONSERVATION organisation has
launched a campaign to highlight the
importance of industrial sites for the
future of a wide range of butterflies.
A leaflet has been published highlighting
the butterflies that live on the
industrial sites of the Tees Valley and
also on the banks of the River Humber.
It has been put together by the Industry
Nature Conservation Association
(Inca), which is based at the Wilton
International site near Redcar, and its
sister organisation Humber Inca,
based at Barton upon Humber.
Both organisations work with industry
to preserve, enhance and create
wildlife habitats and the leaflet is designed
to increase people's understanding
of butterflies' needs.
Teesside-based Inca ecologist Robert
Woods said; "We have known for a long
time that brownfield industrial sites
are precious places for butterflies that
are under pressure as their habitats
disappear elsewhere. This leaflet will
help companies preserve those precious
areas and improve on them
where possible."
One of the reasons such sites are important
is that they are often buffer
zones between industrial plants and
nearby residential areas, which means
they remain undeveloped. That allows
wildflowers to flourish, which in turn
attract the butterflies.
The leaflet includes details of 30
species that live on the Tees Valley's industrial
sites, ranging from common
butterflies such as peacock and tortoiseshells
to the rarer brown argus
and the dingy skipper.
Inca already advises a number of
companies in the chemical and heavy
industry sectors about managing their
sites to provide the best possible habitat
for butterflies.
Tips included in the leaflet include
allowing undisturbed areas, letting
vegetation grow longer, planting flowers,
encouraging buddleia and limiting
the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Mr Woods said: "National surveys
have repeatedly shown that many butterfly
species are struggling to survive
as their habitats disappear. Species
which were once common have now become
rarities.
"Inca's work down the years has
shown that many companies do appreciate
the importance of the wildlife on
their sites, and want to do what they
can to help.
Indeed, we have seen some species
expanding their ranges on industrial
sites as a result of that work.
"This leaflet will help companies better
identify the butterflies that have
made homes on their land."
* Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of
the leaflet should send an A5 stamped
addressed envelope to Inca at The
Phoenix Centre, Wilton International,
Redcar, TS10 4RG. The organisation
can be contacted on 01642-454953, email
Plover@inca.uk.com
10:35am Tuesday 8th April 2008
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