(a) Out of the 543 CEMEX sites assessed worldwide, half are located within two kilometres of an area of high biodiversity value, including 131 sites that overlap with such an area. (b) Of the overlapping sites, 70 have potential to enhance biodiversity management and require further investigation to ensure that impacts on biodiversity are appropriately considered. The study differentiates the sites according to their national, regional or global relevance.

CEMEX is one of the world’s largest cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete companies, with headquarters in Mexico. It has operations in over 50 countries, many of which have BirdLife Partner organisations. A relationship between CEMEX and BirdLife International has great potential in terms of developing best practice for managing biodiversity at CEMEX operations. In 2007, CEMEX and BirdLife commenced a long term (10 year) strategic partnership. This complementary relationship is intended to help drive CEMEX's improvement of its biodiversity management at a local level by fostering collaborations with BirdLife’s national partners.

As a first step in assessing the biodiversity risks and opportunities associated with CEMEX’s global operations, CEMEX and BirdLife International carried out a Biodiversity Scoping Study. The study mapped CEMEX’s quarry sites and assessed their proximity to areas of high biodiversity value, such as international and national protected areas, Important Bird Areas (IBA), Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) and Natura 2000 sites. Among the practical outputs of the study are maps and databases that provide detailed information on the biodiversity features associated with CEMEX’s global operations. Twelve CEMEX sites were identified as areas of global significance, where conservation efforts should be focused first (see figure). With the help of BirdLife, CEMEX is now developing a Biodiversity Action Plan standard to help in the development and implementation of site-specific Biodiversity Action Plans at the twelve priority sites. Wherever possible, these plans will involve the national BirdLife Partner organisations. The target is to have Biodiversity Action Plans established for all sites that overlap with areas of high biodiversity value by 2015.

(c) Out of the 70 priority sites, 58 are overlapping with areas of national or regional importance; and 12 sites have a global relevance and are an immediate priority (CEMEX-BirdLife International 2010).

In the United Kingdom, the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) is already collaborating with CEMEX UK to deliver biodiversity conservation across the business. This has been through producing an innovative corporate biodiversity strategy which focuses on enhancing and creating priority habitats, developing a biodiversity management system and championing biodiversity. The company’s extensive network of quarries provides an exciting opportunity for wildlife habitat creation, including reedbed, heathland and wildflower meadows. By 2020, the project aims to create and maintain 1,000 hectares of UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats and deliver restoration plans for the future creation of a further 1,500 hectares.