Environment | Biodiversity Conservation
We actively conserve biodiversity and integrate biodiversity conservation plans into environmental impact assessments and management plans at each stage of the life cycle of our operations. Xstrata’s HSEC Standard: Biodiversity and Land Management requires all operations and projects to identify biodiversity-rich and sensitive areas systematically and to implement biodiversity conservation plans. All but three operations implemented plans in 2006. These sites are implementing the plans in the first half of 2007.
All managed Xstrata operations and projects (excluding Falconbridge) have developed biodiversity conservation plans with all but three sites implementing plans by the end of 2006. We do not explore or mine in World Heritage properties, which are sites identified by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. All acquired operations will develop and implement biodiversity conservation plans by the end of 2008.
Biodiversity conservation
Biodiversity-rich habitats
Xstrata owns, leases or manages 8,829 hectares of land in or near biodiversity-rich areas. In 2006, the Rolleston coal mine (Australia) was reclassified to include the entire mining lease as an area adjacent to a protected area (5,632 hectares from 430 hectares previously). Two former Falconbridge operations in Canada are also adjacent to protected areas, the closed Gaspé smelter, a former copper mine and smelter (90,000 hectares) and the Magnola magnesium operation (67 hectares) which is on care and maintenance.
Mount Isa Mines (Australia) has identified habitat areas for the capentarian grasswren (IUCN category ‘Near Threatened’) to the north of mining lease and freshwater crocodile (IUCN category ‘Least Concern’) at Lake Moondarra, Mount Isa’s water supply dam which is located on the Mount Isa Mines lease. Mount Isa’s current and planned future operations are not expected to impact on these habitats.
Biodiversity-rich habitats:
- National protected areas as defined by IUCN, registered with the World Conservation Union and managed in accordance with the IUCN protected areas management categories I-IV; and/or
- Globally identified sites of significant international or global value that are recognised by:
- UNESCO World Heritage Convention
- Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance; and
- UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserves Programme.
Sensitive sites
Sensitive areas are defined as areas which, while not protected or recognised as biodiversity-rich habitats, include one or more of the following characteristics:
- High species diversity or high levels of endemism;
- Contains species included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (regionally extinct, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and near-threatened species);
- Rare, vulnerable and threatened habitats or ecosystems (e.g. wetlands).
Xstrata managed operations adjacent to biodiversity-rich habitats
| Operation | Location | Protected area | Area (ha) of operation lease | IUCN category | Ecological sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolleston Mine (coal) | Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia | Albinia National Park | 5,632 | II | Adjacent to Albinia National Park and operating in areas with endangered bluegrass community |
| Gaspé smelter (closed copper mine and smelter) | Quebec, Canada | Parc de la Gaspésie | 2,397 | II | Mine/smelter adjacent to a provincial park |
| Magnola magnesium (care and maintenance) | Quebec, Canada | Étang Burbank | 800 | III | Smelter adjacent to a wetland |
Xstrata managed operations in or adjacent to sensitive sites
| Operation | Location | Ecological sensitivity |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Owen Mine (coal) | Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia | Ravensworth State Forest (IUCN category VI). Expansion will impact 35 hectares of State Forest and 56 hectares of native woodland (offset established) |
| United mine (coal) | Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia | 207 hectares are of high habitat value. This includes a 30 hectare compensatory habitat area for five species of conservation significance with six mammals and four bird species listed under NSW Threatened Species Conservation (TSC) Act and an additional seven migratory species listed under the EPBC Act. Fauna assemblages and listed species have also been identified in an additional 177 hectares. This area also allows a linkage between the Wollemi National Park and Wollombi Brook |
| Westside Mine (coal) | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia | Threatened species: Tetratheca juncea Endangered ecological community: Sydney Coastal Estuary Swamp Forest Complex (offset programme established) |
| Bulga mine (coal) | Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia | Multiple conservation areas with high aboriginal heritage significance including numerous artefacts scattered throughout 4 zones and 55 significant grinding grooves on part of Loders creek. Habitat for several threatened species such as the eastern bent-wing bat, eastern free-tail bat, grey-crowned babbler, speckled warbler, hooded robin, diamond firetail, brown treecreeper and masked owl |
| Oaky Creek, Newlands and Collinsville (coal) | Queensland, Australia | Sensitive areas including endangered brigalow communities |
| McArthur River Mine (zinc lead) | Northern Territory, Australia | Species identified in areas potentially affected by or adjacent to the conversion to open cut operations include: Endangered: Freshwater sawfish Near threatened: Carpentaria grass wren; spectacled hare wallaby; purple-crowned fairy wren; white-browed robin; grey falcon; Worrell’s turtle Vulnerable: Australian bustard |
| Tweefontein (coal) | Witbank, South Africa | Vulnerable: Giant bullfrog; Bald ibis |
| Kroondal Mine (chrome) | Rustenburg, South Africa | Adjacent to wetlands area (although not a protected area or listed in RAMSAR convention on wetlands of international importance) |
| Horizon Mine (chrome) | Pilansberg, South Africa | Protected species or species of concern: Gladiolus, Scadoxus, Sclerocarya and Euphorbia spp. Data deficient: Lemniscomys rosalia (single-striped mouse) |
| Rietvly Mine (silica) | Rustenburg, South Africa | Protected fern species Pellea, Cussonia; Tristachya biserata (previously listed as a red data grass species); Near threatened: Leptailurus serval (Serval) Data deficient: Lemniscomys rosalia (single-striped mouse) |
| Rhovan (vanadium) | Brits, South Africa | No endangered, rare or vulnerable species were recorded. Endangered species that may potentially occur within Rhovan area were identified by using National Botanical Institute Research information and the Red Data List for plants of South Africa. these include: Endangered: one bird species Near threatened: six plant species, 15 bird species Rare: three plant species, two mammal species Vulnerable: 10 bird species, five mammal species Least concern: one plant species |
| Xstrata Alloys Eastern Mines (Thorncliffe and Helena chrome mines and Mototolo platinum group metals) | Steelpoort, South Africa | Endemic ‘red list’ species within or adjacent to the lease area: Short stem carnation weed; Sekhukhune (Bushman’s-tea); Blue Shield Fruit; Red Ivory (Rooi-ivoor); Sekhukhune Elephant-root (Sekuhunebasboontjie); Cicada Pycna Sylvia (rare but not on IUCN red list due to insufficient data) |
| San Juan de Nieva Smelter (zinc) | Asturias, Spain | Herbaceous vegetation: Sensitive to habitat alteration: Crucianella maritima Endangered: Linaria supina Amphibian: Vulnerable: Hyla arborea, Rana perezi Birds: Sensitive to habitat alteration: Haematopus ostralegus Special interest: Hydrobates pelagicus, Riparia riparia Vulnerable: Numenius arquata |
| Tintaya (copper) | Espinar, Peru | Endangered: Puya (Puya raimondii Harms) Near threatened: Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), Giant Gallareta (Fulica gigantean) Vulnerable: Parihuana or Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus), Common Bandurria (Theristicus melanopis) |
| Nordenham (zinc) | Nr Bremerhaven, Germany | Nordenham’s jarosite pond is located inside an area proposed as a protected area under the European Union directive for protection of birds. One near-threatened species and six least concern species have been identified. Further studies are under way |
| Koniambo (nickel) | New Caledonia | The project is within a region containing endemic species, and ecosystems including moist evergreen forest, swamp forest, savannah, mangroves and coral reefs. IUCN Red List species identified include three freshwater fish species, 50 plant species, two vulnerable reptiles, seven birds, three mammals, one shark, two marine fish, two vulnerable marine mammals, and four endangered or critically endangered turtles. |
A number of options have been identified for potential biodiversity offset projects at MRM in Australia through the environmental impact assessment and approval process for its conversion to an open pit. An evaluation process is currently under way to assess the costs and biodiversity benefits of these options to aid selection of the most appropriate site. The programme will be established in partnership with the Northern Territory government, community members and environmental groups. A trial nursery area has also been established to assist with the rehabilitation of the river diversion works. This area will be used to trial the germination of various native species.
Extensive environmental baseline studies including biodiversity assessments were completed or are ongoing at the Las Bambas, Kabanga, Koniambo and Araguaia project sites. A comprehensive biodiversity management plan will be developed as the Koniambo project moves from its feasibility phase to minimise environmental and social impacts and make a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation.
The Araguaia nickel project in Brazil is pioneering exploration and progressive reclamation techniques that minimise the impact of exploration drilling on the sensitive tropical forest areas in which they operate. Bulldozing of roads and platforms is kept a minimum through carrying in drill equipment and manual slashing to prepare the drill site. At the completion of drilling, nearby leaf litter containing seeds is spread on the drill site to rehabilitate the site with native vegetation. At year end, 97% of the drill sites had been rehabilitated.