Protecting the biodiversity at the sites of Veolia in Bulgaria
The challenge
Environmental pollution leads to the extinction of species and decrease in their habitats. Urbanization of the territories becomes an even greater threat to biodiversity.
The initiatives of the companies of Veolia in Bulgaria – Sofiyska Voda and Veolia Energy Varna – are an excellent example of the responsibility and concern for the important topics of our present-day reality, and the following of this example by other companies and institutions is a prerequisite for the achievement of global results in the efforts to study and preserve biodiversity.
This is part of Veolia’s Purpose and mission.
Veolia’s solution
The team of Veolia Bulgaria prevents the damage to local biodiversity at its sites in three ways:
- Collaboration with professional ecologists - to preserve the biological wealth of our nature
- Communication and dissemination with schools and the general public (site visits)
- Revitalization of native species
We study the interactions between our activities and the natural world so that we can gain a clearer understanding of local biodiversity issues. We improve environmental management at our sites and those of our clients, often in collaboration with professional ecologists. Furthermore, we work with numerous partners to raise awareness about more environmentally-friendly practices among our staff, clients and subcontractors.
Actions are primarily implemented at sites with large land holdings situated in sensitive and non-sensitive areas.
Bulgaria
Duration: annually
Type: monitoring of 5 sites
936 Plant species
594 Species of animals
The benefits
In the period 2019-2020 experts from the Biologuy Faculty at Sofia University conducted a comprehensive survey of the biodiversity on the territories of Bistritsa, Pancharevo and Mala Tsarkva Potable water treatment plants as well as of Kubratovo Wastewater treatment plant whilst experts from Varna Technical University studied the biodiversity at the district heating company Veolia Energy Varna. The experts prepared studies containing evaluation, analysis and recommendations for all 5 plants (sites).
Hundreds of birds, beautiful butterflies, foxes and badgers are only small part of the thriving wildlife on the territory of the sites of Veolia Bulgaria.
There are families of bees living at the DHN site of Veolia Energy Varna and at the site of Pancharevo PWTP, 20 and 10 families respectively, raised by the employees. Two protected species of orchids are also growing there:
The flora and fauna survey on the territory of the sites gave a pretty good idea of the state of biodiversity surrounding us, and the recommendations in the reports – guidelines how to contribute to establishing better conditions in the environment.
The care that we take in Veolia for our biological wealth is at the heart of our Purpose and it contributes to the ecological transformation and it’s made of a lot of actions. That’s why all of us as Veolia teams, we're part of the solution #ForNature in Bulgaria.
Francois Debergh, Country Director
VEOLIA’S PURPOSE: committing to a multifaceted performance
SOCIAL
Our commitment supports human and societal needs
COMMERCIAL
We work together with our customers to protect biodiversity on their territories.
ENVIRONMENTAL
We interact directly with the nature in order to protect the environment, in particular by treating wastewater to ensure that water returning to rivers is free from pollution
HUMAN RESOURCES
Raised the awareness of more environmentally friendly practices among our staff, clients and subcontractors