Biodiversity & Ecosystem Protection
Biodiversity & Ecosystem Protection
Significance & Commitment
Recognizing the environmental challenges associated with operations such as 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 by the end of each project lifecycle, ensuring long-term ecological restoration and contributing to sustainable environmental stewardship.
Management Approach
The Company has established a biodiversity policy that reflects the commitment to avoid or minimize adverse impacts on biodiversity resulting from the operational activities. In alignment with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, the Company conducts biodiversity impact assessments for all operational sites. These assessments include evaluating whether sites are located in or adjacent to the protected or high biodiversity wilderness areas.
In the case where impact is identified as high or critical, the Company conducts a biodiversity value assessment aligned with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) framework. To avoid or mitigate risks, a site-specific biodiversity management plan (BMP) is developed, based on the mitigation hierarchy: avoid, reduce, restore, regenerate, and transform. To enhance effectiveness of biodiversity efforts, the Company has partnered with external agencies, including government bodies, academic institutions, and consulting firms.
The Company also conducts surveys to identify vulnerable and native species, especially those listed in the IUCN Red List to ensure adequate protection measures are in place. To reinforce transparency and accountability, the Company engaged external agencies, including government authorities or independent auditors, to verify biodiversity impact assessments and review the biodiversity management plan.
Biodiversity Management Plan in Indonesia
All open-pit mine sites are required to develop a site-specific Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) based on national regulatory requirements and mitigation hierarchy. The targets of these plans are developed in the form of biodiversity index achievement, ecosystem health ratings, and variety of local plant species in the reclamation area.
The baseline data on biodiversity, including local plant species, fast-growing native plants, epiphyte, and ethnobotany, has been monitored since the pre-operational phase. The land management and reclamation plan has been developed in accordance with environmental impact assessment (EIA) and is designed to reduce the potential negative impacts on biodiversity.
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
Biodiversity Management Plan in Australia
The site-specific BMP is a sub-plan of the Northern Region BMP, which all underground mine sites are required to develop based on regulatory requirements and the mitigation hierarchy. The baseline data have been collected since the pre-operational phase, covering both terrestrial and aquatic ecology. This includes ecological communities, threatened ecological communities, habitat values, groundwater dependent, threatened flora and fauna species, and riparian areas.
The BMP identified several key management types to drive outcomes that support biodiversity conservation. These include offset areas, operational areas, native vegetation and areas of biodiversity significance, minimizing impact of threatened flora, fauna species and habitat security, weed management, pest management, and bushfire management. Moreover, site-specific management measures are provided tailored to each location’s ecological context.
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 2024, the Company conducted biodiversity impact assessments across all operations. Each site followed a site-specific biodiversity management plan, with all planned activities successfully implemented and monitored for effectiveness. Key actions included the execution of reclamation plans, mine subsidence management, threatened species survey, and biodiversity offset measures. In addition, biodiversity value assessments were conducted following national laws and regulations.
In Indonesia, the Company partnered with external agencies, including academic and research institutions, to carry out a Plant Diversity Study and Nature Forest Ecology within the concession areas.
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