How Forum Works

The Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum is a working group comprising representatives from Natural England and the minerals industry, through the Mineral Products Association and the Silica and Moulding Sands Association.

The group, known as the Forum, meets approximately 4 times a year and, supported by a small budget to which all contribute, seek to share good practice and to develop and deliver projects in key areas.

The Forum identifies priority areas of work which reflect areas or issues of known concern, information or training gaps and issues where the industry and nature conservation sector need to better understand each other to help make informed decisions.

Natural England and the Mineral Products Association (MPA) signed a series of Memoranda of Understanding which signify a major advance in the two organisations’ ongoing collaborative work in enhancing biodiversity and geodiversity. Following the initial signing of a “Joint Statement of Intent” in 1998, the three new Memoranda cover all terrestrial operations and, for the first time, the marine environment.

In the overarching Memorandum of Understanding, the organisations pledge to support the concept of sustainable development and regard sensitive material extraction and a diverse natural environment as important indicators of success.

In the more detailed and separate Memorandum for “Terrestrial Operations” the MPA, the Silica and Moulding Sands Association (SAMSA) and Natural England commit to specific objectives covering dissemination of good practice, provision of training, encouraging production of company biodiversity and geodiversity action plans within five years and working towards achieving the Government target of 95% of all SSSIs in favourable nature conservation condition by 2010.

The Memorandum for “Marine Operations” between the British Marine Aggregates Association (BMAPA) and Natural England allows for a broad scope of partnership initiatives and specifically to promote the concept of Marine Stewardship, promotion of best practice, appropriate research and knowledge sharing.

Over the last twelve years the organisations with land based operations have worked closely through the Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum, undertaking joint research, organising seminars and publishing good practice guides. This Forum will continue to promote the vital role of the minerals industry in encouraging positive and innovative nature conservation management on all sites.

You can download PDF versions of the memoranda of understanding from the links below:

Memoranda of Understanding - Marine1.6meg

Memoranda of Understanding - Overarching1.4meg

Memoranda of Understanding - Terrestrial Operations1.9meg

Want to know more?

Get some more background on the work of the Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum by downloading this feature article from Quarry Management Journal (December 2005).

Click here to access the document900k