Almost 500 pupils from the IES Las Viñas and CEIP Pablo Picasso schools in Manilva have taken part in the programme to raise awareness of Málaga’s natural environment, organised by the La Utrera quarry. The quarry is located in Casares and is owned by Votorantim Cimentos. The project has the collaboration of the Fundación Tormes-EB, the organisation responsible for developing the quarry’s biodiversity management plan.
The initiative, called “Biodiversidad en el aula” (Biodiversity in the classroom), has as its main aim to teach students about the value of biodiversity and the ecological connectivity associated with the landscapes of Manilva and Casares. To this end, an activity divided into two parts has been carried out in the classrooms of the schools, designed to bring young people closer to the landscapes of their immediate surroundings and the biodiversity they hold.
The first part of the activity focused on explaining the fieldwork methods and techniques that the technical team of the Fundación Tormes-EB uses as part of its wildlife monitoring and follow-up work at the La Utrera quarry, belonging to the Votorantim Cimentos Group. Emphasis was also placed on the wildlife found in the area, its habits, ecology and adaptations to its environment, using real wildlife items such as feet, feathers and wings, skulls and bones, nests and animal remains.
In the second part of the activity, the students studied the tracks, footprints and interpretable signs of the wildlife found in Málaga’s natural environments. The students were able to learn about habitat and the processes of predation and feeding, among other things.
This is the second year that IES Las Viñas has taken part in the initiative. The school’s management decided to repeat it after the success of last year’s edition. CEIP Pablo Picasso, for its part, is joining the project for the first time, with students in years 1 and 2 of primary school.
Joaquín Berja, manager of the La Utrera quarry, said of the programme: “We are very proud to take part in this initiative to promote environmental awareness. We firmly believe that teaching and education, especially among the youngest, are key tools for raising society’s awareness of environmental matters, leading to significant commitments.”
Commitment to the local area
Votorantim Cimentos’ Corporate Social Responsibility Plan is the umbrella under which it frames its commitment to being a good neighbour and to helping improve the quality of life of people living in its surroundings, based on transparency, dialogue and collaboration in the various initiatives carried out there.
Sustainability at Votorantim Cimentos
Votorantim Cimentos is a founding member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and, in coordination with the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), invests in innovation and in the development of joint solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. Its 2030 targets are focused on reducing its environmental footprint by increasing the operational efficiency of its processes and the use of renewable energy. It is also committed to clean technologies that minimise the use of natural resources and reduce emissions and energy consumption, as well as to developing products and innovation projects that contribute to the decarbonisation of the planet.
