Some examples of minimising environmental impact

Solar panels installed along the abertis motorway network provide the energy required for the information panels, CCTV and SOS posts. In acesa, the use of solar energy provides a saving of 13,982 kilowatts, whilst in aumar the figure is 3,153 kilowatts, to give just two examples.

Waste water collected in acesa service areas is treated and used in watering operations.

Today, 46.6% of abertis' operating income comes from business units with ISO 14001 certification.

The abertis foundation promotes research and carries out projects aimed at improving the relationship between the environment and infrastructures. It also supports studies into the environment from a range of perspectives.

The Seventh Spanish National Environment Conference

The abertis foundation participated actively in CONAMA, the Seventh Spanish National Environment Conference, contributing its opinions and know-how, to a variety of Technical Workshops, Working Parties and Reflection Groups. The Foundation also led a Dynamic Session entitled “Foundations and the environment: the tertiary sector in Spain’s environmental panorama” and took advantage of the occasion to present the conclusions of study on Spanish environmental protection organisations.

This congress is the Spanish environment-related event that has proven most popular and of the greatest interest, bringing together every two years the main players in the field: the authorities, businesses, organisations, etc. For this reason, it is considered the country’s sustainable development summit. This most recent event, held between 22 and 26 November 2004, was attended by 8,000 participants.

Martí Boada, abertis foundation Trustee and Scientific Coordinator of the project “The state of environmental foundations in Spain”, presented the conclusions of the study, carried out by our Foundation, with the support of the Science and Technology Institute of the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB). The study provides —for the first time— a compilation of information on 164 not-for-profit organisations operating in Spain and an assessment of the current status of the sector.

The responses provided by these organisations led to the conclusion that around one half of them deal not only with environmental issues, but combine them with other matters. Nonetheless, the task of disseminating information and raising awareness is their common denominator. The majority of these organisations act in their local surroundings, although their aim is to participate in larger-scale projects together with other bodies. The reasoning is simple: environmental problems have no borders. Another common problem is the lack of resources to finance their activities. The fact is that many small organisation compete for the same public subsidies and, in many cases, the projects presented in tenders are similar.

So, why not combine efforts and resources? It was for precisely this reason that abertis foundation performed the study. There is a need to create channels for dialogue, exchanges and collaboration between organisations working on the same issues to share information and solve together and efficiently problems that affect everybody. The Dynamic Session itself represented a step forward towards this common future in that its speakers were Jordi Molina, representative of the Fundación Agbar; Cristina García-Orcoyen, Director of the Fundación Entorno; Carla Galán, Spanish representative of the Fundación Avina; Jordi Sargatal, Director of the Caixa de Catalunya’s Fundació Territori i Paisatge; Víctor Viñales, Director of the Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo; and María Artola, Director of the Fundación Biodiversidad.

In addition to this workshop, the abertis Corporation was present at other forums, such as the workshop on “Sustainable development in infrastructures”, in which José María Morera, Director-General of iberpistas, participated; the Technical Workshop on “Restoring the natural environment”, in which Dr. Carme Rosell presented the study supported by the abertis foundation on the “Restoration of ecological connectors in large-scale road infrastructures”, and in the Working Party on “Planning, construction and sustainable management of infrastructures”, in which technician Luis Balaguer explained the work of aumar, the first Spanish motorway company to receive ISO 14001 certification.

The Biodiversity Action Plan (PAB) on acesa’s motorways

In the search for improved alliances in its projects, the abertis foundation has commissioned from the Fundación Natura the drawing up of a Plan de Acción para la Biodiversidad (PAB, Biodiversity Action Plan) for the sections of the AP-7, AP-2 and C-32 motorways managed by acesa, to conserve and improve the biodiversity of these infrastructures. There are three stages to the plan: the preliminary studies, the drawing up of the action plan itself and the communication project. The plan takes into account regional, Spain-wide and autonomous communities’ strategies for the conservation of biodiversity.

To this end, an ecological inventory has been performed to determine what kinds of habitats, flora and fauna can be found on the lands occupied by the aforementioned motorways. For each section, a detailed analysis has been carried out of all service and rest areas. The result? 1:5.000-scale plans showing all the plants present in each. Furthermore, vegetation profiles have been carried out for the most representative kilometre points along each section to reveal the types of habitats there.

The sections have an average length of 60 kilometres and a variable with, normally lying close to the infrastructure itself, except for the service areas, which have a greater surface area. For this reason, when making the profiles, land outside the acesa property has also been chosen, to gain an insight into the habitat surrounding the specific point chosen as the subject of the profile.

This detailed analysis of the service areas and the vegetation profiles aimed provide an exhaustive study into all the flora present in the infrastructures and thus understand their level of biodiversity.

A large number of local species have been found, including the holm oak (Quercus ilex), the cork oak (Quercus suber), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris). There are also groups of vegetation that have been classified of Community interest, as is the case of the Thero-Brachypodietea, which are annual Mediterranean xerophytic grasses that form a habitat of priority Community interest. Also found are other local species such as the giant reed (Arundo donax) and the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).

The sections into which these three infrastructures are divided are very different. Taking the AP-7 as an example, a clear difference can be noted between the sections running between Granollers and la Jonquera and those from the Bellaterra service area to Tarragona. Jonquera-bound, there is a greater diversity of landscapes. One can see great woods of stone pines, cork oaks and holm oaks, poplar and plane plantations, rosemary shrubs and Kermes oak bush formations. In contrast, Tarragona-bound, the landscape is much drier and homogenous, dominated by woods of Aleppo pine with undergrowth of rosemary and olive and carob tree plantations, as well as thermophile thickets dominated by the Fan palm (Chamaerops humilis), the latter classified as habitats of Community interest.

Protection of the Cap de Creus Natural Park

The abertis foundation has become the protective organisation for the Cap de Creus Natural Park, following the signing of an agreement between the Catalan Minister of the Environment and Housing, Salvador Milà, and the Chairman of the abertis foundation, Miquel Roca i Junyent. This partnership will permit the carrying out of public works, reclamation and conservation work on the area. Also present at the event was the abertis Managing Director Salvador Alemany.

The agreement forms part of the Department of the Environment and Housing’s initiative to constitute, through the Sponsorship and Patronage Agency, a Sponsors’ Council for its parks. This council will be made up of businesses that wish to participate in the protection of Catalonia’s most important natural spaces.

The biological importance and historical and cultural heritage of Cap de Creus means that this partnership fits in perfectly with abertis' corporate social responsibility activities, which regard the environment and culture –as well as people– as a priority. Furthermore, the abertis foundation is characterised by its involvement in the territory in which the abertis corporation carries on its activities.

The Cap de Creus Natural Park, created in as such in 1988, covers an area of 13,843.11 hectares, of which 10,780.44 are of land and 3,063.67 sea. It is located in the Alt Empordà district in the province of Girona. Its borders cover practically the entire coastline between Roses, Cadaqués and el Port de la Selva and go inland until reaching the municipalities of Palau-Saverdera, Pau, Vilajuïga and Garriguella.

A unique Natural Park

This Natural Park, visited by some 500,000 people in 2004, is unique due to its triple importance: the richness of its land-based biology, that of its marine biology and its historical and cultural heritage. From a biological viewpoint, worthy of especial note is the diversity of flora and fauna, the coexistence of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean elements and the presence of numerous unique species. Its is also well-known for its stunning landscapes, with the exceptional beauty of both its coastal and inland areas.

With regard to the historical and cultural heritage which surrounds it, the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes —a real jewel of Catalan Romanesque architecture— is its most important element. Also important are Dalí’s stomping grounds of Portlligat and la Vall de la Santa Creu, as well as the archaeological remains which reveal the ancestral presence of man in the area.

The key priorities for Cap de Creus are related to improving infrastructures and services, signposting, the reintroduction of species and the dissemination of information on the area by means of publications and studies. Additionally, the Park’s action plan also contemplates, more broadly, the implementation of management of its marine resources, the prevention of forest fires, the reclamation of urbanised areas of great natural and landscape-related importance, the promotion of scientific research, the encouragement of public usage that respects the area, environmental education, dissemination of its natural and cultural heritage and contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of the local population.

Other actions in support of the environment

• 2008
  • Collaboration with NGO UICN for the preservation of the Gran Ruta Inca natural areas
  • Symposium on Biomass as an Energy Source
  • Lawn in the gardens at the abertis headquarters replaced by native vegetation watered by a drip system
• 2007
  • Publication of the book Nature and public use: mobility, impact and proposals
• 2006
  • Participation in Spain’s VIII National Environment Congress (CONAMA 8). Workshop on "Nature and public use: mobility, impact and proposals" (conclusions)
  • Collaboration with the Foro Soria 21 para el Desarrollo Sostenible sustainable development forum
  • Presentation of the book ‘I Trobada d’Estudiosos del Foix’
• 2005
  • Publication of the book "Tourism in Catalonia’s countryside: an environmentally-sound, quality strategy"
  • Project for the creation of indigenous Mediterranean gardens in the service areas along aumar motorways. Planting of olive trees
  • V Workshop on Sustainable Heritage Management. ‘Cultural heritage as a catalyst for the territory’
  • I Encounter on the Impact of the Public Use of Natural Spaces
  • Sponsorship of the Eco-tourist Map of Catalonia, published by Lynx Edicions, on the Catalan Natural Parks
  • Financing of the book "I Trobada d’Estudiosos del Foix" (1st el Foix Study Encounter), published by the Diputació de Barcelona
  • Dr. Boada, Trustee of the abertis foundation, receives the 2005 Environment Award from the Institut d’Estudis Catalans
• 2004
  • Improvements to the Valencia-Alicante motorway, managed by aumar, using bitumen with rubber from waste tyres
  • IV Workshop on Management of Sustainable Heritage. Archaeological parks: new proposals for the future
  • Dr. Boada, Trustee of the abertis foundation, receives Spain’s National Environment Award

Organisations with which we collaborate on environmental matters

• Asociación Madre Coraje (charity offering recycling-based aid for poor communities in Peru)
• Asociación Foro Soria 21 para el Desarrollo Sostenible (sustainable development association)
• Generalitat de Catalunya. Department of the Environment and Housing
• Generalitat Valenciana. Department of Territory and Housing
• Diputació de Barcelona
• Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CREAF and ICTA)
• Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA, Institute of Agro-food Research and Technology)
• Universitat de Girona. Chemical and Environmental Engineering Laboratory (LEQUIA)
• Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
• Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC, Higher Scientific Research Council). Lugo Marine Research Institute
• Cap de Creus Natural Park
• CONAMA
• Fundació Natura
• Lynx Edicions (eco-tourist map of Catalonia)
• Alt Penedès District Council (cleaning and prevention action for the district’s woodland)

Commitments that make us abertis

abertis designs its social responsibility policy as an extension of the commitment already taken on in the Social Responsibility Strategic Plan. This policy expresses the Corporation's firm will to minimize environmental impact and prevent pollution caused by activities and services, as well as supplying added value to shareholders, personnel, clients, suppliers and the community.

The abertis commitment, in both the social and environmental spheres, is materialized in commitments to people: with employees (maintaining motivation and involvement in business management), with clients (ensuring a close relationship and their satisfaction), with suppliers and hired companies (extending commitments in social responsibility to them), and with society (involvement in the community and the social fabric).

As part of abertis's commitment to people, its personnel are basic for the development of the Corporation’s activities. For this reason mechanisms have been established to involve employees in the development of the Company’s activities and opportunities are offered for their professional and personal development.

A result of this, for example, is the advice and recommendations given in informative leaflets to employees and people working in their area.