Valuing the net benefits of ecosystem restoration : the Ripon City Quarry in Yorkshire, Ecosystem Valuation Initiative case study no. 1

Aggregate Industries UK, a subsidiary of Holcim, restores ecosystems as part of its quarrying operations. In support of a request to extend an existing quarry in North Yorkshire, the company proposed to create a mix of wetlands for wildlife habitat as well as an artificial lake for recreation, following the extraction of sand and gravel from land currently used for agriculture. Stakeholders were consulted to determine their preferences for restoration. In collaboration with IUCN, ecosystem valuation was undertaken to assess the types and scale of economic benefits associated with wetland restoration.