Lafarge North America Inc.

The Bath Cement Plant in Ontario, Canada, is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario and comprised of a myriad of ecosystems, such as woodlands, open fields, lagoons and natural wetlands. 

A tree swallow peaks from its nest box at the Bath Cement Plant.

The employees are working with local community group and partners on the Lafarge Wildlife Habitat Rehabilitation Program, a long-term project to restore retired farmland to its natural state more suitable for wildlife.

In the next five years, Lafarge intends to plant more than 40,000 trees and develop a forest management plan. The tree plantings will also improve the quality and quantity of habitat for local animals all around the plant property. In 2005, the plant received Lafarge North America Inc.’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

The Bath Plant entered into an agreement with Natural Resources Canada Forest 2020 Program where in the spring of 2005 more than 26,000 trees were professionally planted on plant property. In 2006, approximately 15,000 trees were planted in various parcels of Lafarge property.

 

Local students, through the Trees for Peace program, plant trees around the property.

Natural Resources Canada Forest 2020 program is a government initiative to help the Canadian government reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The CO2 credits gained from the tree planting are donated to the Canadian government to help Canada meet the Kyoto Protocol. 

Trees for Peace is a community organization that creates tree-planting partnerships and promotes youth in action. This marks the third year that the Bath Plant has been involved with the program. On May 4, Trees for Peace brought in approximately 70 local area elementary school students to help plant over 2,000 trees. 

To kick off two weeks of projects and tree plantings, 4th grade students from the Bath Public School joined together with Lafarge employees on May 5 to plant trees and spread seeds on an area of land adjacent to one of the ponds on the Lafarge property.

 

Fourth grade students from Bath Public Schools help with the tree planting restoration.

Over 500 trees plus seeds were planted on this day to make it a great success. The seeds planted were a mixture of wildflowers and a wildlife foraging mix which included clovers and other nutritious plant food for local wildlife. The mixture of seeds contains many plants and flowers that these animals commonly use for food. 

On May 6, the Kingston area Boy Scouts planted over 2,500 trees around the perimeter of a past agricultural field and seeded inside the field with native wildlife foraging mix. The weather was not perfect, but the Scouts still showed up with their shovels in hand and rain jackets on ready to plant trees! Although the day was wet, many trees were still successfully planted on the site, and overall the day was a success. 

The Napanee Scouts and Beavers visited the Bath Plant on May 9, to help plant over 1,000 trees on a large parcel of land near the plant. In total, Lafarge planted more than 20,000 trees this year and over 400 lbs of seed consisting of wildflowers and various wildlife forage mixes. Lafarge employees posted signage across the property advising people of the restoration work and not to disturb the areas.

Lafarge employees posted signage around the property advising employees and volunteers about the restoration progress.

The Bath Plant graciously donated all remaining unplanted trees to plant employees and the Bath Public School to plant in other locations after the last event to avoid tree loss. This year was the most successful tree planting to date, with over 350 local area residents and plant employees participated in enhancing the wildlife at the Lafarge Bath Plant. 

 

Nick Veriotes, Lafarge Bath Plant Environmental Coordinator, has worked tirelessly with others in the community and the plant to run these programs and increase the amount of wildlife in the area.

The plant is next planning an outdoor learning centre and Corporate Lands for Learning program for students to learn about wildlife and how to preserve the environment. This project is scheduled for construction in 2007.

Currently, Lafarge has 23 certified and nearly 60 active programs involved with WHC across North America.

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