Ramco Cements' ecological restoration project at the limestone mine in Pandalgudi, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first site in Peninsular India to receive Advanced Certification from The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS). According to reports from Business Standard, this recognition positions the project alongside other certified restoration sites globally, including work by the Jane Goodall Institute and Ecosia in Uganda, and the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden project in Hong Kong. The certification is particularly notable as TGBS is acknowledged by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and is supported globally by over 250 scientists and academics as a stringent certification that evaluates a project's impact on biodiversity protection and recovery. The certification also ensures that the work is positively contributing to the local communities of the area.
The restoration project covers over 500 acres of worked-out mines, with a 234-acre site specifically assessed and certified. As reported by Business Standard, work commenced in 2018 with technical support from Auroville Botanical Gardens, with the first plantations beginning at the end of 2019. The project is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed by 2027.
The restoration efforts have demonstrated substantial environmental benefits, with over 430,000 native trees and shrubs from 150 species of ecological significance planted at the site. According to Business Standard, since project inception, 72 species of birds and 53 species of butterflies have been recorded on the site, which was previously a barren mine with minimal biodiversity. The project has also captured approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the past seven years.
The area was officially opened in 2022 by the State Chief Minister and has since attracted over 13,000 visitors through organized educational experiences for local schools, colleges, and training institutions. As reported by Business Standard, the project has provided inspiration and support for the development of the Rajapalayam Masterplan and the subsequent declaration of Rajapalayam as one of four towns in Tamil Nadu on a fast track to carbon neutrality by 2041.
Mr P. R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman of the Ramco Group, expressed his commitment to sustainability, stating, "The Ramco Group is committed to supporting a wide range of initiatives that advance the country's transition to a sustainable and carbon-neutral future. We hope that the work completed here in Pandalgudi will serve as an inspiration and a blueprint for the entire mining industry of the country." Dr David Bartholomew, CEO of TGBS, remarked on the project's exemplification of high-integrity restoration, highlighting the sustained improvement and local ecological expertise demonstrated by Ramco Cements and Auroville Botanical Gardens. The certification emphasises credible recovery, identifying risks and potential enhancements over time, placing the Pandalgudi project among the world's most successful restoration and biodiversity enhancement projects.
