Support biodiversity with your idea!

The aim of the competition is to contribute to the protection and support of biodiversity in quarries and sandpits and to raise awareness of the biological value of extraction sites, thus contributing to further protection and support of biodiversity.

Students and researchers can participate. Their task is to create a project to support ecology and biodiversity in extraction sites. Proposals must be submitted via the Quarry Life Award website by February 17, 2012.

Choose a quarry and your own topic
Show your creativity in approaching biodiversity. The competition offers a unique opportunity to add real ecological and educational value to extraction sites. On the competition website, choose one of the quarries and sandpits and create a project for it. However, keep in mind that your idea must relate to one of the four themes:

1. Discover biodiversity in extraction sites: try to raise awareness of biodiversity in the chosen quarry and sandpit with your project.
2. Biodiversity and reclamation: your project will promote biodiversity during the reclamation of quarries and sandpits (e.g. through measures for nature conservation, forestry and agricultural management, recreational and other specific uses).
3. Biodiversity and education: create a concept for social activities focused on extraction and biodiversity (activities, educational trails, cooperation with schools and universities).
4. Measures to support biodiversity during extraction: optimize the ecological value of quarries and sandpits throughout the extraction process with your project.
   

Other topics will be assessed based on their contribution to the value of biodiversity and their relevance to our societies and products.

Authors of the five most interesting projects will have access to selected quarries and sandpits operated by Českomoravský cement and Českomoravský štěrk for research purposes from March to September 2012. Selected projects will be supported with a sum of 11,000 CZK as a contribution to cover research costs.

In November 2012, the expert jury will select three winners from each country and subsequently three global winners.

·    Prizes for national winners will be awarded in the amounts of 1,500 euros, 3,000 euros, and 5,000 euros
·    Prizes for global winners will be awarded in the amounts of 10,000 euros, 20,000 euros, and 30,000 euros

The award ceremony will take place in November and December 2012.
More information about the competition can be found on the website www.quarrylifeaward.cz