A More Sustainable Nature and Environment
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Biodiversity and Land Use
Biodiversity and Land Use
At Akçansa, we implement a biodiversity strategy aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to reduce the impact of our operations on biodiversity and to preserve ecosystems. Within this framework, we aim to manage our activities with a nature-positive approach.
Our Biodiversity Policies and Strategies
In all current areas of operation, as well as in areas we plan to develop, we obtain the necessary permits and conduct our activities based on scientific principles tailored to the region's unique environmental conditions. To prevent damage to biodiversity, we design region-specific projects.
We consider biodiversity management a fundamental part of our business strategy and take action to prevent biodiversity loss and protect ecosystems in line with our defined goals. In the areas where we operate and their surroundings, we conduct activities to reduce dust emissions, optimize water use, and transform quarries into carbon sink areas. We comprehensively analyze the impacts of our operations on biodiversity and develop risk management strategies accordingly.
Our biodiversity policy is governed by the Board of Directors and the Sustainability Committee, with progress monitored by the Sustainability Executive Committee chaired by the CEO.
You can access our Biodiversity Policy here.
At Akçansa, we are committed to refraining from opening or exploring new sites in protected areas designated under UNESCO World Heritage and IUCN Categories I and III. In addition, we aim to prepare Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) for all our mining sites and implement them in line with our sustainability targets. We are aware of our responsibility to protect the biodiversity in the lands we operate and treat our operations’ impact on biodiversity as a critical priority.
Impact, Risk, and Opportunity Analysis
Due to its nature, the cement industry has various impacts on biodiversity, particularly through land use, habitat loss, and land degradation. Mining operations place physical pressure on ecosystems during raw material extraction and cause lasting impacts on soil structure and vegetation. Furthermore, emissions from cement production affect air quality and ecosystem health. Therefore, monitoring and mitigating biodiversity impacts in the cement industry plays a vital role in achieving a sustainable future.
With this awareness, in 2023, we conducted comprehensive biodiversity impact assessments at our operational sites in collaboration with independent consultancy firms to better understand our influence on ecosystems. These assessments considered direct ecological impacts, proximity to water resources, and emission levels. As a result, we identified our priority biodiversity areas.
We began preparing Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) for our mining sites—two BMPs have already been developed as of 2024. We also published our Biodiversity Policy in 2024. Our goal is to prepare BMPs for additional sites in 2025 and to have BMPs in place for all mining areas by 2030, in line with our sustainability goals.
Although our operations do not result in desertification, land degradation can occur during mining activities. To mitigate these effects, we conduct post-operational land rehabilitation projects. We are committed to preparing forest areas for restoration and conduct afforestation activities annually in areas where reserves are depleted, aiming to return them to their pre-operational state.
Sensitive Areas and Materiality
To identify material locations for biodiversity management, we carried out a prioritization study based on ecological sensitivity and sector-specific importance. As a result, we identified five priority sites, which were classified as high ecological sensitivity areas with significant environmental impacts.
Criteria used during the prioritization process included:
Ecological sensitivity and legal conservation status of the area
Risk of direct habitat loss due to operational activities
Use of water and natural resources
Impact of emissions and air quality
Rehabilitation and Conservation Efforts
To reduce the ecological impacts of our mining operations, we implement various rehabilitation projects. In 2024, we rehabilitated 0.5 hectares of mining land, increasing our total rehabilitated area to 29 hectares. Our target is to rehabilitate 50 hectares by 2030.
In 2024, we also participated in the sixth edition of the "Quarry Life Award(QLA)" competition, organized by our parent company, Heidelberg Materials. This competition promotes awareness of biodiversity in raw material sites, fosters university-industry collaboration, and encourages students and academics to develop projects that enhance biodiversity. As part of this initiative, we conducted outreach at university departments and received 13 project proposals for five of our mining sites. Projects were scored in scientific and social impact categories based on criteria such as methodology, innovation, feasibility, stakeholder engagement, and contributions to science, community, and biodiversity. Six projects advanced to the finals. In 2025, these projects will be piloted at our mining sites and evaluated nationally and internationally, with the top projects receiving awards.
Metrics and Targets
Our goal is to rehabilitate 50 hectares of mining areas and develop Biodiversity Management Plans for all mining sites by 2030. To achieve these goals:
We will continue rehabilitation and afforestation at our mining sites.
We will expand our biodiversity management and action plans.
We will foster innovative approaches through pilot-scale projects such as the QLA competition.
In line with our goals, in 2024, we conducted fieldwork at Bozalan Limestone and Çamlıca Taştepe quarries and prepared the first versions of their Biodiversity Management Plans.
| Number of Plants in Biodiversity Conservation Areas | 2024 |
Legally Protected Regions | 0 |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 0 |
UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserves | 0 |
Ramsar Sites | 0 |
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)15 | 4 |
Other16 | 19 |
15 The KBA-related identification standard is based on the distance from the region to the KBA, with plants within <2.5 km considered "very close" and those within <5 km considered "close."
16 Nine of our mining sites are located on land classified as "forest" under the jurisdiction of the forestry administration and thus fall under protected areas. These sites are listed under "Other" in the table.
A World Worth Living: Marmara Islands Artificial Reef Project
We launched the Marmara Islands Artificial Reef Project to support marine ecosystems and increase biodiversity.
In collaboration with the Marmara Island Gündoğdu Village Development and Beautification Association, we benefited from the consultancy of Balıkesir University and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in this project. With the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquatic Products, we placed a total of 280 artificial reefs, 160 of which were produced with 3D printers, on the seabed of the Sea of Marmara.
Through this project, we aim to contribute to the sustainability of marine ecosystems in the Sea of Marmara, improve the habitats of marine life in the region, and support underwater life.
The first findings of our year-long study reveal that the reefs have begun to revitalize marine life. According to our first monitoring report, we identified a total of 33 different marine species, including 10 fish species. We observed an increase in the numbers of economically valuable fish species such as the common dentex (Diplodus vulgaris) and the meagre (Sciaena umbra). We also encountered the protected species of the Mediterranean spider crab (Maja squinado) and the critically endangered pen shell (Pinna nobilis), which is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List.
The pen shells support the health of marine ecosystems with their ability to filter 6 liters of seawater per hour and offer an effective solution to environmental issues such as mucilage. In the areas where our artificial reefs are located, we have observed improvements in the marine ecosystem, with the reefs becoming breeding and feeding grounds for fish and an increase in biodiversity.
Legal Disclaimer
Akçansa 2024 Integrated Annual Report (‘Report’) has been prepared by Akçansa Çimento Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (‘Akçansa’). The scenario analyses aligned with TSRS, the financial materiality studies, and all assessments related to physical and transition risks stemming from climate change—prepared by Akçansa—are based on the company's data, calculations, expert opinions, and compliance with national and international standards. Akçansa Çimento Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. shall not be held responsible for any losses or damages that may arise should third parties or entities rely on these assumptions.
