- Baseline inventory of Flora and Fauna
- T&E species assessment
- Conservation management
- Collaboration with City of Newark and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Created nesting conditions favorable to target Species of Concern
- Ecological restoration of macrosites to Northeast Atlantic coastal conditions
- Coastal resilience project to offset future climate change affects
Challenge
Firmenich retained GZA to complete a large-scale ecological restoration project on its active industrial property adjacent to Newark Bay, an area impacted by a long history of industrial use. The fragrance manufacturer was eager to re-establish a robust ecosystem supporting pollinators, migrating songbirds, raptors, small mammals and northern diamondback terrapins into the sterile waterfront.
Solution
GZA’s conservation management recommendations were to:
- Install natural materials to stabilize wetland areas and create micro-niche habitat;
- Create an aquascape settling pond with benthic construction and floristic enhancements;
- Eliminate non-native vegetation, create a 25’ x 75’ brushpile, and revegetate with native materials designed to attract obligate estuary pollinators, neotropical migrating birds of concern, and estuary dependent species of concern;
- Create favorable nesting site conditions for the northern diamondback terrapin, identified as a target species of concern;
- Build a walking path and gazebo for employees’ enjoyment;
- Empower employees to care for the project through annual Community Day involvement and exposure to GZA ecologists; and
- Install signage about the natural history of the site and species targeted by the conservation management plan.
GZA collaborated closely with the City of Newark, conservation groups, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the project.
Benefit
GZA recognized the site’s great potential for ecological restoration, and Firmenich was eager to implement the project—which it considers to be a highlight of the company’s global sustainability initiatives.