- Intel's biodiversity program has been chosen
as a lead example of corporate responsibility in Ireland.
The Rye River is so much more beautiful because of it.
We would like to really complement Intel on this program,
which has brought together
people from the local community
and environmental leaders, along with Intel,
to really make their local environments beautiful.
The biodiversity element of this
is something that we would encourage
all of our companies to look at.
So, congratulations, Intel.
- When we arrived in 1994, the river was very shallow,
slow-flowing, very canal-like in appearance,
I would say low fishery potential.
The river had filled with silt,
and on the silt, there was vegetation growing,
so the river was full of vegetation.
In fact, during the summer months,
it was only about one meter of open river channel.
We have been monitoring the fish population
in this section of the river for the last 14 years,
and depending on water quality,
in years where the water quality has been good,
we've seen a four to six-fold increase
in the numbers of fish.
- I am a member of the Friends of the River Rye.
We meet three or four times a year,
and I represent the local Anglers on the committee.
The committee looks after the well-being of the river,
the water quality, and does all it can
to protect the river and to improve the spawning
for the trout and salmon that run up the river each year.
- Because quite a large portion of the river
is actually running through the site itself,
it was always an important natural resource for us,
and we're always very conscious
of all of the natural resources
that are present at the site itself.
- In conjunction with the Leixlip Anglers
and the Fishery Board,
Intel funded a large-scale rejuvenation of the river.
Banks were improved, they were shored up,
the channel was cleared, and spawning gravel was put in,
and by and large, they saved the river.
- Around 2001, we did some work,
and in terms of butterfly beds
that were planted along the river,
and that was to encourage the attraction
of certain flora and fauna to the river area.
Some of the river area itself,
particularly some of the river banks on the Intel site,
are actually special areas of conservation,
so we look after those quite closely as well.
Some other work that happens in 2004
was in relation to pruning back the trees,
which had become quite overgrown again,
and which were causing
a shadow problem to the river itself.
And we also had some work
that took place around that time
in terms of spawning gravel beds
that were laid on the river also
to encourage some of that spawning.
So there's been continuous works over the years.
- As much as it goes, reduced to the size of chips
and the microtechnology that we develop,
we don't underestimate the big impact
that we can have on the world through our technology
and the products and process that we use.
The company really puts a lot of emphasizing
on controlling everything that it works on,
and for that reason, I think
that is that has a good understanding
of how we impact on the environment.
- The enhancement of the River Rye
was a significant signature project
that we felt would benefit both us and our employees.
I would recommend that any company
would work with a community
and commit to protection of the environment
and particular enhancement
of the biodiversity in their area,
and it's something that Intel will continue to do
for many years to come.
- We need between 15 and 20 people on-site for several days
to carry out official assessment
on a small stretch of river.
We couldn't do that work without the financial support
of companies such as Intel.
(soft orchestral music)