• 2007 At A Glance
• Our Approach To Sustainability
• Our Approach To Sustainability Reporting
• Our Stakeholders
• Sustainable Development Governance
• Stewardship
• Healthy People
• Safe Workplaces
• Environmental Commitment
  • Closure Planning
  • Climate Change
  • Biodiversity
  • Resource Conservation
  • Wastes
  • Emissions
  • 2007 Performance
  • Case Studies
• Our People
• Social Responsibility
• Socio-Economic
• Case Studies
• Reports
• HSEC News
• Contact Details

Biodiversity

Loss of biodiversity due to competing land use is an issue of global concern. We recognise this concern in our Sustainable Development Policy (PDF 28 KB) commitment to 'enhance biodiversity protection by assessing and considering ecological values and land-use aspects in investment, operational and closure activities'.

In conjunction with the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), we have made an undertaking not to explore or mine in World Heritage listed properties. We have also made a commitment to take all possible steps to ensure that the effects of operations adjacent to these areas are not incompatible with the outstanding universal values of World Heritage properties.

We seek to recognise and manage the values of biodiversity that may be adversely affected by our direct or indirect activities. A number of our sites operate in or near areas that have high biodiversity values, including internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots, underscoring the importance of our biodiversity assessment and management programs. Further internal guidance is being developed to support the implementation of these programs.

In the longer term, we see an opportunity beyond our site-specific activities to engage in regional biodiversity issues. We will continue to work with the communities in which we operate and with other stakeholders to develop our approach to biodiversity offsets, with our primary aim being to avoid or minimise any harm to biodiversity.

Sites are required to maintain land management plans, and many are actively engaged in biodiversity-related programs.

Read our 2007 case study: Turtle Village Trust in Trinidad and Tobago.

For details on our 2007 performance, see 2007 Performance>Biodiversity.