IUCN and Vale join forces to forge long-term collaboration for Nature Positive outcomes

The new collaboration builds on three years of constructive engagement between IUCN and Vale, during which both organisations carried out due diligence, identified shared priorities, and recognised the mutual benefits of working together. The one-year Inception Phase will define the scope and ambition of the collaboration, supporting a Nature Positive programme for Vale in Brazil and contributing to the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.  

The two organisations will share knowledge and insights to develop a roadmap that strengthens Vale’s strategy and actions, supporting its No Net Loss commitment, enabling Biodiversity Net Gain wherever possible, and contributing to a nature-positive future. 

IUCN, recognised globally as a leader in nature conservation and sustainable resource use, brings decades of expertise in collaborating with the mining sector on biodiversity-related issues. Through the collaboration, Vale will benefit from IUCN’s tools and approaches—including the IUCN RHINO (Rapid High-Integrity Nature-positive Outcomes) approach and the STAR (Species Threat Abatement and Restoration) metric—expertise, networks, and projects to enhance sustainable business practices at the operational and corporate level.  

Hugo Barreto, Vale’s Nature, Climate and Culture Executive Director, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: 

Partnering with IUCN marks a strategic milestone in Vale’s Nature journey, reinforcing our commitment to science-based action and setting a benchmark for responsible mining that actively supports biodiversity, climate and community well-being.” 

Gabriel Quijandria, Regional Director, IUCN South America, welcomed the collaboration in Brazil, a major country for biodiversity. He said: 

With only five years to go until 2030, the world is running out of time to reverse biodiversity loss. Achieving the Nature Positive ambition requires all stakeholders to come together and act decisively. This collaboration with Vale, in a megadiverse country such as Brazil, underscores the vital role the private sector can—and must—play in conservation, in close cooperation with IUCN Members and the National Committee.”  

Martin Sneary, Director, IUCN Business and Nature team, said: 

This collaboration with Vale gives IUCN another great opportunity to test new approaches like IUCN RHINO in real-world scenarios. Combining IUCN’s science with Vale’s operational reach in Brazil, we can turn data into action and create a sustainable model for how business and conservation can work together to meet global biodiversity targets."