Biodiversity and Cultural Property in the Management of Limestone Resources in East Asia

There is an enormous need and demand in East Asia for both housing and other building construction, and for the development of infrastructure for transport, water and other utility provision. At the very foundation of all this activity, there is a burgeoning demand for limestone, ... This involves cement production, as well as supply of lime, aggregates and dimensional stone. Limestone is found in all East Asian countries, and cement, the chief limestone product, is a common barometer of economic progress. Many World Bank-finance infrastructure projects use cement and are subject to careful screening to ensure compliance with the World Bank's environmental safeguard policies. This report draws attention to two key aspects of limestone resource management that could help minimize impacts: (i) the selection of an appropriate site for exploitation; and (ii) the management of selected sites during and after quarrying.Through a wide distribution of this report among the various stakeholders, such as, infrastructure engineers, environmental assessment professionals, biodiversity specialists, archaeologists, and other cultural property specialists, the future management of limestone resources of East Asia would receive much needed attention.