Serras Aire e Candeeiros Nature Park

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Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park covers the area of the most important repository of limestone formations in Portugal. The Karst morphology, the nature of the vegetation, the underground water courses, the specific fauna, mainly from the caves, and the intense stone extraction activity contributed to the creation of the natural park in 1979, aiming the protection of nature and the defense of the region's architectural and cultural heritage. The natural park covers a significant part of the Maciço Calcário Estremenho, which corresponds to an area with levels greater than 200m that stands out from the surrounding areas with altitudes between 100 and 200m. It includes the mountains of Aire, Candeeiros, Mendiga and adjacent lands, covering the municipalities os Alcanena, Alcobaça, Porto de Mós, Rio Maior, Santarém, Torres Novas and Ourém.

In the last decade, the balance between nature and human activity has been attracting greater attention from the general population and natural stone extraction sector is conscious of this issue. In the last years, big steps have been taken to minimize the "environmental footprint" of our sector.

The recovery of old inactive quarries was adopted by companies as a mechanism to obtain credits that allow them to continue their activity by expanding their extractive areas or licensing new areas. It was a way of getting together extractive and manufacturing industry in a cause that was started a long time ago by the natural park. When recovering a quarry we are erasing a scar and preparing new habitats.

The tecnological innovation of extractive equipment has been helping significantly with the reduction of consumption and noise and gains in production. The industry has used, for several decades, all byproducts and the waste is close to zero, but other steps are being taken. The constant analysis of the impact on fauna and flora surrounding the extractive areas is an example of this.

Although environmental certification is still a long way for most companies, they already adopt sustainability measures such as waste management (oils, diamond wire used in cutting dough, among others).

Io be aware of the importance of preserving the environment becomes more relevant and companies adopt measures that, although expensive, help to minimize their activity impact.

The energy cost and carbon footprint of this activity is about 20 times lower than other sectors with a production based on fossil fuel combustion or petroleum products.

If we compare a natural stone life cycle with ceramic, for example, there is a huge difference. It is important to use long life cycle products that last over time and help increasing the durability of our homes for many generations. Products can be reused with a little effort or recycled and returned to nature without polluting. Only in this way is possible to say that we are truly preserving the environment.

One step at a time in the right direction

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