Biodiversity management is integral to meeting international sustainable development goals as well as our own environmental standards. In compliance with both, we regularly review our operations and, as necessary, adjust the way we manage biodiversity on our property and work to improve our monitoring against pre-defined indicators.
In 2006, for example, we initiated peer reviews of 13 Anglo American sites in Australia, the UK and South Africa. Then we shared the findings of each review throughout the Group, enabling the spread of best biodiversity practice across all of our operations.
Case study: Drawing biodiversity boundaries
What do you do if your coal reserves extend into a fragile wetland ecosystem?
At Anglo Coal's new Isibonelo mine 120 km east of Johannesburg, South Africa, part of the answer was to modify the boundaries of the initial mining area to reduce any operational impact on the wetlands. We did this work in close consultation with a number of stakeholders, including government departments and environmental bodies such as Working for Wetlands. We also asked the advice of independent specialists.
At the same time, we committed to rehabilitate the wetland areas still located within our operations perimeter, and also to restore offsite wetland areas in the Olifants River Catchment.
Our efforts were successful – and appreciated. Anglo Coal's Isibonelo wetlands project received South Africa's Nedbank Green Mining Award in the environmental category for an initiative the judges described as 'innovative' and 'beyond compliance.
'Case study: Putting the rivers right
Good neighbours sometimes help to put things right even if they aren't responsible for a problem.
That's what Anglo Coal Australia is doing with a river restoration project to repair damage caused by years of agricultural degradation.
In 2006 the Dartbrook Mine, which had closed its underground operations, committed to a project designed to benefit the natural environment and the community. The first stage was to plant and subsequently care for 4,000 seedlings of an endangered tree, the River Red Gum, and establish a biodiversity area along the banks of the Dart Brook and the Hunter River. The next step, sinking woody debris structures and large logs, was aimed at increasing the stability of the streams' beds and creating new habitats for fish.
Overall, healthier, greener valleys will reduce bank erosion, improve water quality and encourage a return to the valley's natural biodiversity. Our work in these valleys will also help to set new standards for best practice in biodiversity throughout the region.
