At the initiative of the UN, May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, which draws attention to the rich variety of living organisms on our planet, nature’s irreplaceable treasures, and our shared responsibility.
Caring for our immediate environment has long been part of the corporate culture at Veolia Hungary. Thanks to our colleagues, we know which animal and plant species prefer our sites nationwide, and together we work to make their environment more livable.
Protection of Birds
Among Veolia employees, some are birdwatchers in their free time. At the Dorog power plant, we installed birdhouses and feeders based on the suggestion of one of our amateur birdwatcher colleagues.
In Pécs, at the Pannon Power Plant located in the Mecsek Mountains, a unique situation developed. At the initiative of a local falconer, Szabolcs Mede, we placed a special nesting box 72 meters high on the plant’s stack. Together with civil organisations, our common goal was to provide a suitable nesting place for the peregrine falcon, a species returning from extinction. This was a truly exciting challenge and an example of how man-made environments can serve the lives of native species. Since then, a female peregrine falcon has moved into the nesting box, and perhaps her second nesting will also be successful.
Our Group’s Commitments
Veolia Hungary recognizes that all economic activities have an impact on the ecosystem. Therefore, we are committed to harmonizing human development with environmental protection and safeguarding the habitats of existing and native plant and animal species.
To achieve this goal, we have committed to:
Carrying out green area management that ensures the protection of biodiversity at our sites with green spaces larger than one hectare;
Not using any environmentally harmful plant health chemicals or herbicides on industrial premises;
Raising awareness about the daily importance of protecting the local environment and biological diversity among our employees, subcontractors, visitors, and other external partners.
Pécs has unique biodiversity
The environment around our Pécs site is particularly sensitive to human activity, so we protect the species living here as much as possible and ensure our impact on the local environment is minimal. We are proud to encounter many animal species at any time, such as:
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
The most common owl species in Hungary, which, despite its name, avoids large, dense forests.Eastern Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus)
A widespread species in Hungary. It hides in forests and tree lines, but is also common in gardens.Common Noctule (Nyctalus noctula)
Besides forests, they like the crevices of apartment buildings in cities.Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
One of our best-known birds of prey. Nests on taller buildings and chimneys.Eurasian Badger (Meles meles)
A widespread, well-adapted member of the weasel family. Lives in large underground burrow systems.Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
A generally solitary and very widespread predator. Most active at dusk and at night.
Sheep grazing instead of machine mowing
At some of our sites, instead of mowing the grass with petrol-powered machines, sheep are used for grazing. This is the case at the Szakoly power plant, where we have set up special gates and fencing systems to ensure the safe movement of the animals.
This method has also proven effective in Ajka, where the maintenance of green areas in the dangerous high-voltage transformer yard is entrusted to sheep, thus protecting the safety of our colleagues and ensuring the natural maintenance of the green area.