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Liverpool Bay: preserving biodiversity in the United Kingdom

We have been running a range of environmental protection initiatives in partnership with various associations since 1995.

Our biodiversity management plan in the bay

We have been operating in the United Kingdom since 1964, with holdings in five production sites. These include Liverpool Bay, where we have established an operating model that respects the local environment and creates value for everyone. Our Land Management Programme, which commenced in 1995, has had a significant impact. It has included stabilising the sand dunes, the reintroduction and maintenance of a population of natterjack toads and using Welsh mountain ponies to manage the habitat and control the height of the grass cover in a sustainable way. We have also run a three-year programme to reintroduce the sand lizard and have created environmentally friendly areas that balance the needs of conservation with visitors’ enjoyment of the local beaches. Our Point of Ayr Land Management Programme looks after 182 hectares of dunes, farmland and salt marshes around Point of Ayr, Flintshire, while respecting the local natural environment. Started in 1995, it formed part of the original plan for the construction of the Point of Ayr Gas Terminal in North Wales and is regarded as having made a positive contribution to preserving the local environment and landscape. Since 2014, we have been 100 per cent responsible for Liverpool Bay operations and have further improved the habitat, helping to conserve the area while striking a balance with tourism – both important considerations for the coastal town of Talacre. 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action programme with 17 goals aimed at the social and economic development of communities and regions. As part of the Liverpool Bay project, we helped to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable SDG 11, and worked to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15). 

Biodiversity before all else: gallery

The project has been going on for 13 years, and has seen us help protect the natural environment in Liverpool Bay. In collaboration with various local associations, we have carved out cycle paths and nature trails and launched a range of programmes for reintegrating amphibians, birds and mammals into the area.

Safety first

Safety in the workplace is an imperative value we want to share with our employees, contractors and local stakeholders. We are committed to eliminate accidents and protect the integrity of our assets. We consolidate a culture of safety through management and organization models, digital tools and communication initiatives. Our goal is strengthening the awareness of our people and their sense of responsibility toward themselves and others, by expanding HSE tools and digitalization to make corporate processes safer, more efficient and faster. 

Impact on the environment and local communities

In 2008, the Talacre Masterplan – a sustainable regeneration project – helped reduce traffic congestion in and around the town, much to the satisfaction of local residents. This small Welsh town attracts large numbers of visitors in the summer because it has the only beach in the county. It is also the first beach that visitors come across when entering Wales via the North Wales coastal route. In 2014, we developed a car park that has helped improve the habitat, reduce traffic congestion and increase revenues for local businesses. Meanwhile, our Environmental Educational Programme creates educational materials for local schools every year, allowing us to work with the community to help safeguard the local habitat and train students to understand the future needs of the area. Eni’s Field Study Centre was established specifically for this and delivers environmental education courses to young people for four weeks a year. Finally, Big Dee Day was originally designed to clean up the River Dee estuary, removing rubbish accumulated over many years of industrial use. Now the project has evolved to include the history of the river so students and volunteers can teach others about its important role and ensure that it remains a popular tourist destination while remaining sensitive to its environmental features.

The value of experience

The environmental principles behind the Liverpool Bay project are applicable to projects planned for other environmentally sensitive coastal areas, in particular those featuring large-scale industrial development. 

Partnership

In carrying out this project, we have worked with many partners including Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Flintshire County Council. We have also developed beneficial relationships with such organisations as the North Wales Wildlife Trust, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and Keep Wales Tidy.

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