Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Significance & Commitment
Recognizing the environmental challenges posed by operations like open-pit mining, the Company places a high priority on managing and mitigating impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. The Company commits to achieving a net positive impact on biodiversity at the end of closure stage.
Management Approach
The Company has implemented a Biodiversity Policy which underlines the Company’s commitment to minimize risk on creating adverse consequences on biodiversity from the Company’s operations. Based on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) concept, the biodiversity management system has been developed with 4 approaches: avoidance, minimization, rehabilitation, and offset.
The Company carries out a preliminary biodiversity risk assessment for each business unit since pre-operation stage by considering whether those operational sites are located in or adjacent to the protected or high biodiversity value areas. A survey on vulnerable and native species, especially the species in the IUCN Red List, is also performed to ensure that such species are protected. In the case where a high potential risk for biodiversity impact is identified, the Company then conducts a biodiversity value assessment in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) guideline. In addition, the biodiversity management plan (BMP) is developed for each specific site with the target to achieve a net positive impact on biodiversity upon closure of the mine after 2025.
Example of Site-Specific BMP for Open-Pit Mine
Management Area
– Reduce and minimize impact in accordance with the permits obtained
– Decrease erosion and sedimentation while increase soil fertility
– Execute land reclamation and revegetation as per approved plans
– Utilize conservation area as germplasm source
– Collect seeds and conduct natural extraction of endemic local plants
– Develop documentation of wildlife diversity
Reclamation Activities
– Prepare and update biodiversity inventories and ecological study reports for both flora and fauna
– Cover void with overburden material and utilize for revegetation activity
– Restore areas by planting valuable native plants
– Conduct training and workshops for employees and local communities
Example of Site-Specific BMP for Underground Mine
Management Area
– Minimize biodiversity impact in accordance with the permits obtained
– Implement weed and pest management
– Apply bushfire management
Threatened species survey and monitoring
– Conduct flora and fauna pre-clearance survey
– Rehabilitate temporarily disturbed areas (e.g., drill sites) to support regeneration
– Manage remaining native vegetation to minimize impacts on other threatened flora and fauna species
Habitat Security
– Re-use plant material removed from the disturbance areas
– Implement weed control programs to prevent weed infestations and to maintain bushland condition
Year in Review
In 2023, apart from an annual biodiversity impact assessment, the Company has also partnered with external agencies.
For example, in Indonesia, the Company carries out an in-depth biodiversity study and plans to expand efforts to include additional plots monitoring at the Heterogenous Education Forest.
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