Biodiversity

Environmental pollution leads to the extinction of species and their habitat loss. The urbanization of territories is an increasing threat to biodiversity.

Veolia Group has committed to biodiversity conservation on the territories of its sites and to the implementation of a biodiversity conservation program with specific objectives.

The initiatives of the companies operated by Veolia in Bulgaria – Sofiyska Voda and Veolia Energy Varna – are an extremely good example of responsibility and concern regarding the most important topics of our times, and the following of that example by other companies and institutions is a prerequisite for achieving global results in the efforts to study and conserve biodiversity. That exactly is part of the Purpose and the mission of Veolia Group.

During the first phase of the program, an evaluation was made of the biodiversity of our sites in Bulgaria, and reports were developed describing all present species, the measures and recommendations for biodiversity conservation and the improvement of its condition.

The second phase of the program is the annual filling of data on a dedicated platform developed by the Group, where the footprint of the company’s activity on biodiversity is to be assessed.

That necessitated a more thorough survey of the flora and fauna at the potable water treatment plants Bistritsa and Pancharevo in 2019, and in 2020 – at Mala Tsarkva potable water treatment plant and the district heating plant of Veolia Energy Varna. The survey was carried out by a team of the Faculty of Biology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the University of Varna, which drew up reports on the biodiversity condition (assessment, analysis and recommendations) for each of the sites.

One of the main findings of the reports was that the species diversity is rich despite the small areas operated by Veolia Bulgaria and is in good condition, which means that the company’s activity has had no adverse effect on it.

In 2021, 2022, and 2023, specialized audits were completed to assess the biodiversity and the level achieved in meeting the objectives set out in the program. The matters included in the audit concern light pollution, presence of invasive species and the fight with them, use of phytosanitary products, knowledge of the biodiversity at the sites and further efforts to improve its condition, assessment of carbon emissions, etc.

In 2023, the objectives set by the Group were 100% achieved at the four sensitive sites of Veolia in Bulgaria, and at the fifth site (Sofia wastewater treatment plant), identified as non-sensitive, the implementation achieved was 89.7%.

We are proud of the audits because the results achieved over the three consecutive years put Veolia Bulgaria at the forefront in biodiversity conservation and care among the other Veolia Group companies across Europe.

There are birds, butterflies, badgers, reptiles, rare protected orchid species, and beehives on the territory of the treatment plants of Sofiyska Voda and the district heating plant of Veolia Energy Varna. Our employees are trained on an annual basis for biodiversity conservation at the plants.

Educational paths with signs informing about the specific species, with many photos and descriptions, have been established to promote the biodiversity at the plants. They all raise the awareness of both the employees and our guests.