Project Overview

The Ramco Cements Limited has received international recognition for ecological restoration work at its limestone mine in Pandalgudi, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu. The restoration project has been awarded Advanced Certification by The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS), making it the first site in Peninsular India to receive this certification.

Certification Details

The Global Biodiversity Standard is recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It is supported by over 250 scientists and academics worldwide as a rigorous certification for biodiversity protection and recovery. The certification ensures the work positively contributes to local communities.

Project Scale and Timeline

The project area covers over 500 acres of worked-out mines, with a 234-acre site specifically assessed and certified. Work was initiated in 2018 with technical support from Auroville Botanical Gardens. The first plantations started at the end of 2019, work is ongoing, and completion is expected by 2027.

Ecological Achievements

  • Over 430,000 native trees and shrubs planted from 150 species of ecological significance
  • Recorded 72 species of birds and 53 species of butterflies on site (previously barren with no significant biodiversity)
  • Estimated capture of approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the past seven years

Community and Educational Impact

The area was officially opened in 2022 by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and has received over 13,000 visitors as part of organized educational experiences for local schools, colleges, and state/national-level training institutions. The project inspired the development of the Rajapalayam Masterplan and subsequent declaration of Rajapalayam as one of four towns in Tamil Nadu on a fast track to carbon neutrality by 2041.

Management Commentary

Mr P. R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman of the Ramco Group, stated: "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 The Global Biodiversity Standard, commented: "Pandalgudi demonstrates the leadership that high-integrity restoration demands: ambitious delivery on the ground, combined with a willingness to have biodiversity outcomes independently assessed and to use the findings to improve. Through long-term commitment and local ecological expertise, Ramco Cements and Auroville Botanical Gardens have transformed a severely degraded mine into a recovering native ecosystem."

Company Background

The Ramco Cements Limited is the flagship company of the Ramco Group, incorporated in 1957 (formerly Madras Cements Limited) and headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The company ranks among India's leading cement producers with an installed capacity of over 20 million tonnes per annum across more than ten manufacturing facilities in southern and eastern India.

About TGBS

The Global Biodiversity Standard is an independent assurance standard that assesses whether biodiversity outcomes in nature-based restoration projects and programmes are credible, appropriate and improving over time. It provides site-based assessment grounded in ecological science and local expertise, helping funders, governments, and investors understand biodiversity risk and performance. Advanced Certification recognizes high-performing certified sites for the biodiversity outcomes they achieve.