The UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session held in Spain in June 2009, welcomed the responsible position of Tata Steel in agreeing not to carry out mining that would damage the outstanding universal value of the Mount Nimba Strict Natural Reserve - a trans-boundary property within Guinée and Cote d'Ivoire. This site is listed officially by UNESCO as "in danger" substantially because of the threat of mining to it. IUCN has an official role to monitor conservation of this site, as part of its role as advisers on nature to the World Heritage Committee. The position taken by Tata Steel is in line with the request of the World Heritage Committee to all holders of mining concessions to respect international mining standards in World Heritage properties.

The concern regarding the threat from mining to Mount Nimba World Heritage site was directly discussed by the IUCN Asia Regional Director, Aban Marker Kabraji and the IUCN India office at the highest level with Tata Steel. IUCN is very pleased to acknowledge the decisive and positive action by Tata Steel to remove the threat that was posed to this uniquely important site posed by their proposed activity.