Conserving wildlife on-site at Intel

Intel Ireland has a long history of leading on voluntary on-site biodiversity action in Ireland. Since its arrival in Kildare, the company has enhanced, restored and created biodiverse habitats in and around its campus and amplified impact beyond the limits of its site by supporting local partnerships for nature and engaging employees in its efforts to support local wildlife. It has also shared its activities with other companies in Ireland through the Business in the Community Ireland Biodiversity Learning Network. In recent years, Intel Ireland identified additional biodiversity measures arising from its achievement of the Business Working Responsibly Mark and from the innovative BITCI Biodiversity Framework for Business, which Intel was the first company in Ireland to use. A site visit by BITCI’s Biodiversity Specialist assisted in identifying opportunities for biodiversity enhancement and these were further developed by the External Relations Manager and an Environmental Engineer to form a Biodiversity Plan. Actions included:

• Biodiversity was incorporated into Intel Ireland’s Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) and is now an integral part of the company’s Environmental Management Plan, with objectives and goals for the year. It will be reviewed as per ISO requirements.
• Bird, bat and insect boxes were erected throughout the site and these were promoted internally through nature walks.
• A Biodiversity Map was developed and shared with all employees to raise awareness of on-site biodiversity.
• To mark Earth Day (22nd April), a woodland area outside one of our buildings was planted with native varieties of bluebells and red campion.
• To mark Biodiversity Week there was a nature walk.
• 18 members of the Environmental Health and Safety Department volunteered to weed the IR6 woodland area.
• University College Dublin (UCD) in conjunction with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and Friends of the River Rye group completed a Fossitts Habitat study on the Rye River, which has established a baseline for future studies.
• The company began working with a local school on a garden to encourage the pupils to learn how to plant, maintain and harvest their own food, while also exploring biodiversity within the school garden environs.
• Intel Ireland planted a wildflower meadow on approximately two acres in an effort to support pollinators such as bees and hoverflies on site.
• A booklet, Embracing Biodiversity At Intel, was published to showcase the company’s biodiversity actions and impacts. The booklet features a biodiversity map of the site.

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