Promoting Biodiversity Net Gain in the Eastern Region of Ghana
IUCN-Newmont collaboration releases the Akyem mine site Summary Report as part of the bilateral agreement focused on meeting positive results for biodiversity conservation
Biodiversity is under increasing threat from human activities. One way to address the risks to biodiversity in the mining sector is to systematically evaluate conservation actions' outcomes under the mitigation hierarchy lens. With the most recent Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which concluded in December 2022 and calls for protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030, more organisations are committing to biodiversity protection targets, also as part of the nature positive agenda.
Newmont has made significant strides in creating sustainability initiatives using the IUCN Biodiversity Net Gain Protocol. Since 2018, Newmont has collaborated with IUCN to help achieve its goal of no net biodiversity loss, with net gains where possible. These relationships are essential to the mining industry's goal of operating a safe and stable mining project.
"Our partnership with IUCN is an integral part of Newmont's biodiversity management program, and supports our commitment to No Net Loss; the IUCN review of the Akyem mine's biodiversity offset work serves to improve and shape the positive outcomes of the project, provides transparency and assure alignment with internal and external stakeholders", said Briana Gunn, Newmont Group Executive, Environment.
In 2022, a review team, formed by representatives of IUCN member organisations and subject matter experts, visited Newmont's Akyem mine site in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The review included a comprehensive evaluation of biodiversity programs and resulted in recommendations for improvement and future direction. Click here to read the Summary Report.
For IUCN, the lessons gathered under the collaboration provide a clear view of how the protocol can be adapted for contextual realities and meet local needs. "IUCN is pleased to work with Newmont on these reviews, as they are designed to bring members of IUCN's broader constituency closer to mining operations, providing their respective expertise and learning about how a global company like Newmont manages biodiversity", said Steve Edwards, Senior Programme Manager at IUCN.
About IUCN-Newmont Collaboration
IUCN, a recognised global authority on biodiversity, and Newmont, a global mining company, have established a collaborative agreement to help the company meet its global targets to achieve no net loss in key biodiversity values and net gains where possible. As part of the agreement, Newmont asked IUCN – including representatives of IUCN Member organisations and its expert commissions – to conduct independent reviews at select Newmont mine sites using the IUCN Biodiversity Net Gain Review Protocol. This protocol aims to help transform their operations to meet today's widely accepted global goals for biodiversity and sustainable development.
About Newmont
Newmont is the world’s leading gold company and a producer of copper, silver, zinc and lead. The Company’s world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social and governance practices. The Company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution and technical expertise. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.