Mining and Biodiversity A collection of case studies – 2010 edition Case studies 2010-1 Contents Foreword 1 Introduction 2 Resolution Copper Mining – Arizona, USA 4 IndoMet Coal – Kalimantan, Indonesia 6 The Ambatovy Project – Republic of Madagascar 8 AngloGold Ashanti Brasil Mineração Ltda – Sabará and Nova Lima, 10 Minas Gerais, Brazil Compañía Minera Antamina S.A & Asociación Ancash – Ancash, Peru 12 Cerrejón Coal Company – Albania, La Guajira, Colombia 14 Cerro Vanguardia S.A. – Santa Cruz, Argentina 16 De Beers Marine – Kleinzee and Alexander Bay sea areas 18 Namdeb Diamond Corporation – Sperrgebiet, Namibia 20 Rio Tinto Group – Australia 22 The Nature Conservancy – Development by Design 24 BirdLife International – Linking Western Hemispheric Important 26 Bird Areas and Bird Migration Conservation International – IBAT for business 28 Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP) 30 Acknowledgements 33 Mining and Biodiversity A collection of case studies – 2010 edition www.icmm.com/biodiversity Foreword d r o w e r o F 1 Biodiversity is a term used to describe the breadth of life on earth – from animal species to genes and ecosystems. Concern for the conservation of biodiversity is related to its decline as a result of human activity on the planet. The reach of this vast number of activities, one of which is mining, is increasing with population growth. To draw attention to this concern, the United Nations has declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity: a celebration of life on earth and an invitation to take action to safeguard it. More than ever, the conservation of biodiversity is a priority. Our member companies have committed to contributing to conservation of biodiversity and, in this context, ICMM has been part of a dialogue with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2004. In that same year, ICMM published its first set of case studies on integrating mining and biodiversity conservation and, in 2006, ICMM published its Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity. Since then, field experience has grown and good practices have continued to develop. In the run-up to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 10th conference of the parties, ICMM has compiled a short collection of recent case studies to demonstrate good practices in biodiversity. Much as in the 2004 publication, these case studies are meant to show how good practice, collaboration, and innovative thinking can advance biodiversity conservation in the context of mineral exploitation. It is our hope that these case studies will inspire companies, communities, governments, NGOs and scientists to co-operate in developing more avenues for integrating mining and biodiversity conservation. Anthony Hodge President, ICMM Mining and Biodiversity A collection of case studies – 2010 edition Introduction 2 Biodiversity conservation is, and will continue to be, Growing attention to biodiversity by ICMM members – an important consideration for mining in the future. and by the industry as a whole – is accompanied by the Mining is a significant economic activity in many appearance of increasingly structured approaches to countries – recent studies show that 41 nations are managing company impacts. ICMM and other heavily dependent on mineral development and a organizations have published guidance for good practice further 7 have large internally focused industries in biodiversity management that promotes this (e.g. China and India). With increasing demand for structured approach. There are currently no definitive raw materials, it is inevitable that mining will indicators of good biodiversity management practice; continue, and may expand into ever more remote however for the purposes of this volume we identify the regions. It is many of these same regions that following common elements: scientists have identified as priorities for biodiversity conservation and possibly formal protection. • Company Biodiversity Commitment – company-wide ICMM believes that the mining sector should assess commitments to “no net loss” and “net positive how far it has come and how much more remains to impact” to biodiversity are beginning to appear as are be done to develop and implement sound biodiversity similar commitments for example around “zero management methods so that it is ready to take on harm”, or “contributing to biodiversity protection in the increasing challenges that lie ahead. One areas of operation”; particular challenge that the industry will have to face is the recognition that in some instances mining and • “No Go” Policies – company-wide commitments to conservation may not be compatible, as evidenced by avoid mining within areas where harm to biodiversity ICMM members’ commitment not to mine or explore is unacceptable, such as the commitment by ICMM in World Heritage Sites. members not to mine or explore in World Heritage Sites; Overview of the Case Studies • Mitigation Hierarchy – structured biodiversity management approaches that begin with avoiding The selection of case studies for this volume unacceptable impacts, minimizing the impacts that represents voluntary contributions from a number of do occur, restoring areas that are impacted, and companies. It is not a comprehensive survey of offseting the residual net loss of biodiversity (and biodiversity management practices across the sector. implementing additional voluntary projects in some The cases span a range of geographies, types and cases); phases of mines. We begin with three case studies on biodiversity management during the project (or • Biodiversity Action Plans (or Management) (BAPs) planning) phase of mines in the U.S., Indonesia, and – written plans that identify and quantify company Madagascar. They are followed by a series of case impacts and risks to biodiversity and explain how they studies of biodiversity programs implemented by will be managed according to a structured approach operating mines in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, to achieve the company’s biodiversity commitments; Colombia, Namibia, Peru, and South Africa. and, • Biodiversity Reporting – systems in place to report on biodiversity related activities either as part of company environmental or sustainable development reports, or as separate stand-alone publications. Mining and Biodiversity A collection of case studies – 2010 edition n o i t c u d o r t n I 3 Each case study begins with a rapid summary of the Looking to the Future use of these elements by each company, as well as references to their sources of biodiversity guidance. We expect that we will look back at this volume of In practice most companies are in the early stages case studies as a transition time from the more of developing these elements – a process that common historical practice of one-off voluntary realistically may require years to complete. More conservation projects by mining companies to hard work will be needed in the future, and lessons structured approaches that follow accepted guidelines learned by leading companies will undoubtedly for identifying, measuring, and managing impacts and assist the sector as a whole in improving its risks. This will be accompanied by an evolution of performance in biodiversity conservation. BAPs to practical documents that integrate directly into company environmental management systems. But industry is not alone in this pursuit. A number With this broader use of a structured approach will of international NGOs are developing tools and come greater field knowledge to support the approaches to assist companies seeking to improve refinement of methods for biodiversity risk analysis, their management of biodiversity impacts. In the landscape-scale conservation assessment and second section of this volume there are descriptions planning, and design of biodiversity offsets. of the work currently being undertaken to assist extractive companies by Birdlife International, the We look forward to continuing to partner with others Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program, in supporting broader implementation of good Conservation International, and The Nature practices for biodiversity conservation and in helping Conservancy. The dedicated staff of these to shape this continuing evolution. organizations welcome the opportunity to assist companies in piloting a range of innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation. ‘GROWING ATTENTION TO BIODIVERSITY BY ICMM MEMBERS – AND BY THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE – IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE APPEARANCE OF INCREASINGLY STRUCTURED APPROACHES TO MANAGING COMPANY IMPACTS.’ Mining and Biodiversity A collection of case studies – 2010 edition Resolution Copper Mining Arizona, USA > Photo: Native grasslands at Appleton Ranch Jared Hardner 4 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW Rio Tinto is the majority shareholder of the exploration project Resolution Copper Mining (RCM), located in Superior, Arizona, USA. Initial exploration in 2001-2003 indicates a Company Biodiversity Commitment: large copper ore body is present more than 2,100 meters below the surface, possibly the largest in North America, Net positive impact capable of producing 20 percent of expected future US copper Commitment to maintain flows in local surface waters demand over the next five decades. In addition to addressing the technical challenges of accessing the ore body at a depth “No Go” Policy: of over 2,100 meters below the surface and a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius, pre-feasibility work is focused on Will not mine or explore in World Heritage Sites evaluating a broad range of mining, processing