Ecological Conservation
The ecological environment is the basis for many ecosystem services that we and our surrounding communities depend on. As a result of our activities, we have a significant responsibility for biodiversity and land management. If mining, exploration, and smelting activities are not managed properly, it may result in adverse impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Targets and Progress
Our Approach
Zijin Mining will continue to practice the ecological civilisation concept of Respecting, Conforming to, and Protecting the Nature and adhere to the principle of Developing While Protecting and Protecting While Developing. It applies the mitigation hierarchy of Avoidance, Mitigation, Restoration, and Compensation When Necessary to address the loss in biodiversity. We set up a special fund for ecological restoration and are committed to promoting the restoration and governance of mining areas. By managing the entire life cycle of mines, protecting biodiversity, cooperating with stakeholders to plan land use rationally, and implementing ecological restoration measures, we strive to minimise the impact of mineral resource development activities on the ecosystems in and around the mine areas.
To realise our vision of ecological protection, we have formulated documents including the “Policy Statement on Protection of the Ecological Environment” and the “Guidelines for Biodiversity Work”. Our Board and management team are responsible for formulating strategic directions, which are implemented by all the subsidiaries. All our mining areas have formulated and regularly updated the “Mine Geological Environment Protection and Land Reclamation Plans”, and will gradually adopt natural-based solutions to address biodiversity issues in the future.
Risk Management
Mining activities may result in a certain degree of land surface damage and foreseeable ecological risks. Therefore, it is particularly important to protect the ecological environment, and identify and prevent ecological risks in mining areas. During project planning and before land-disturbing activities, we will investigate and evaluate the biodiversity and ecosystem health around each mine, and further assess the impact of our operations on biodiversity and the scope of the ecosystem that may be disturbed, and the number and types of threatened species; we will also analyse the possible impacts on the surrounding ecosystems during short-term construction and long-term operation.
Biodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity is essential for human survival. Rich biodiversity is a vital foundation for supporting all forms of life on Earth. We recognise the biodiversity crisis emphasised in the "Kunming Declaration" and the "KunmingMontreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (hereinafter referred to as the Framework) and the importance of transformation for sustainable development. As such, we are committed to strictly complying with international conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on Wetlands, during the operations. We will abide by the national laws, regulations and standards related to the biodiversity and those of the host countries. We will play a positive role in maintaining biodiversity in the mine area.
At each of our operating mines, we focus on adopting responsible biodiversity management methods, establishing standards and plans for biodiversity conservation, and verify mine restoration. We also develop plans for postclosure ecological restoration. We value the protection of ecosystems (such as wetlands, wildlife corridors, protected areas and agricultural land). We conduct biodiversity surveys and assessments before launching new projects and do not engage in exploration and mining activities in sensitive areas, including nature reserves and ecological redlines.
We protect rare animals and plants and their natural habitats. If our subsidiaries involve protected habitats or species, we will manage them according to the specific site planning. We protect unique and precious local plants through the establishment of new botanical gardens, reserves, and wetland reserves, or relocate animals and plants to other areas. We will seek regulatory approval at every stage of a project, to ensure that endangered species and fragile ecosystems are not damaged. We will follow the Framework goals that require immediate action and take urgent management actions to prevent the extinction of threatened species due to our activities.
● We work with conservation agencies, governments, local communities and NGOs to promote biodiversity protection. For example, Continental Gold in Colombia joined the National Animal Protection Organization of Colombia and signed the "Convention on Environmental Protection in the Western Region of Antioquia" with the local provincial environmental protection department; Hunchun Zijin and the Hunchun Bureau of the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park Administration joined hands to protect wild Siberian tigers and leopards for the harmonious coexistence of the mine and the surrounding ecology.
Land Management and Mine Restoration
We roll out the construction of green mines in all operating sites, integrating ecological restoration throughout the entire process of production and construction. We are also in strict compliance with the laws and regulations of the host countries to implement our green, high-quality and sustainable development strategies in geological survey, mining, processing, smelting, and mine closure. For all the land under our management, we always adhere to the following principles: