Imerys Performance Minerals Asia Pacific
The details
Imerys Performance Minerals Asia Pacific (Imerys) is an international supplier of specialty minerals, operating a mine and processing plant in the Far North to extract halloysite, a rare, high-whiteness kaolinite clay valued by ceramic tableware producers.
Imerys wanted to better understand and acknowledge the environment they operate within, and the flora and fauna they share the site with. We were engaged to carry out a baseline ecological survey of the site.
The challenge
Understanding a working industrial site’s ecological value takes a broad, multi-disciplinary approach — no single survey method gives the full picture. The challenge was building an accurate baseline across habitat types, species groups and water quality, in a way that could genuinely inform how Imerys manages its environmental footprint going forward.
Our approach
We undertook a comprehensive baseline ecological survey, including:
- Vegetation and habitat survey
- Five-minute bird counts
- Lizard survey through spotlighting
- Kiwi monitoring
- Water quality monitoring
- eDNA sampling
Beyond the fieldwork, we saw an opportunity to bring the findings back to the people on site. One of our ecologists was invited to present to Imerys staff during their Staff Engagement Day, sharing what the survey had found and helping staff understand the species living on the site, and in the wider area they call home.
Outcomes
The baseline survey gave Imerys a clear picture of the flora and fauna sharing their site, across habitat, bird, lizard, kiwi and aquatic species, supported by water quality data. The staff presentation extended the value of this work beyond a technical report, building genuine awareness and connection among the people working there.