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ANGLO AMERICANS PERSPECTIVE ON BIODIVERSITY OFFSETS

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Experience with biodiversity management and offsets across the globe ... its pure sense of species diversity in many ways has become a confusing term, ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: ANGLO AMERICANS PERSPECTIVE ON BIODIVERSITY OFFSETS


1
ANGLO AMERICANS PERSPECTIVE ON BIODIVERSITY
OFFSETS
Conservation International Global
Symposium Madagascar 2006
  • Peter Coombes - Environmental Manager

2
Background
  • Sustainable Development goal Enduring Value
    translating mineral wealth into socio-economic
    and bio-physical benefits and value
  • International Council for Mining and Metals
    (ICMM)
  • The challenge of mineral wealth using resource
    endowments to foster sustainable development
  • Biodiversity Good Practice Guidance document
  • Experience with biodiversity management and
    offsets across the globe
  • Anglo Base Metals Anglo Coal Anglo Platinum
    Anglo Ferrous Industries Anglo Tarmac Mondi
  • Kumba Iron Ore Company De Beers Anglo-Gold
    Ashanti
  • South Africa Chile Brazil Australia Namibia
    Zimbabwe Europe Russia China
  • From this background identified questions and
    challenges relating to offsets


3
Key issuesBiodiversity offsets at an operational
level
  • Modern definition covers a multitude of issues
    relating to ecosystem services and human well
    being, as well as its pure sense of species
    diversity in many ways has become a confusing
    term, difficult to define and measure
  • Mining required to mitigate their impacts
    therefore the focus on offsets is a like for like
    swap of what size?
  • Management of offsets in perpetuity? Mines
    close!! Who takes over an offset at closure?
  • The the residual impact caused by mining must
    relate to significant biodiversity to warrant an
    offset


4
Key issuesBiodiversity offsets at an operational
level
  • What is significant biodiversity?
  • National or regional biodiversity strategy
    identifies sensitive sites and species
  • Without a national biodiversity strategy, who
    determines what is significant biodiversity the
    mine?
  • Increased chance of an offset being taken over
    for its conservation value if it is in terms of a
    national or regional strategy
  • Main issue there must be a good business case
    for biodiversity offset conservation!!


5
Evaluation of the business case South Africa
  • Strong business cases
  • Ensures continued access to land (international
    company)
  • Increased investor confidence and loyalty
    (international company)
  • Reduced risks and liabilities
  • Strong and supportive partnerships with NGOs
  • Weak business cases
  • Shorter and less contentious permit cycles
  • Improved community relations
  • Easier access to finance
  • Better relations with regulators
  • Engagement with employees
  • Opportunities as a development partner


6
Questions and challenges
  • Is the residual impact to biodiversity
    significant? Who determines this? How is this
    measured, particularly if human well being is to
    be considered?
  • How do we define and measure the biodiversity
    contribution to human well being within the
    context of a large mine?
  • Does a mine purchase land and remove people to
    develop an offset?
  • Could the offset requirement become another means
    for private land owners surrounding mines to
    extort money from mining companies?
  • If an offset is not possible does this imply a
    no-go for mining minerals cannot be sterilised!


7
Questions and challenges
  • What activities constitute an offset and what
    would fall under the criteria of net positive
    contribution?
  • Is mining expected to offset secondary impacts
    what is governments role?
  • What happens to an offset should a mine be sold
    does the new owner take responsibility for the
    offset?


8
The way forward
  • Many questions research and partnerships
    required
  • Institutional framework for biodiversity and
    offset conservation required authorities need
    to be involved cooperative governance essential
  • Biodiversity impacts are bigger than mining
    poverty, agriculture, deforestation, etc. Need to
    place mining and biodiversity offset conservation
    within a national context and policy
  • Need to find a solution to no-go areas and
    sterilisation of minerals in perpetuity -
    Government support required
  • Need to link offset areas into mine closure
    objectives and plans links offsets into a legal
    framework
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