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Biodiversity—Programs & Actions
Environmental Impact Assessments
Prior to constructing new facilities or expanding existing ones, Alcoa engages external consultants to conduct an environmental impact assessment to determine what, if any, effects the project would have on the environment.
This thorough analysis documents the level of ecosystem and species diversity within their area of influence using expertise and techniques, procedures, and information generally accepted by the international scientific community. Measures to minimize adverse impacts on ecologically significant ecosystems or species are identified and incorporated into the detailed design of the planned facilities. Particular attention is given to the conservation of rare, endangered, or threatened species or communities.
Rapid Assessment Program
One method we use to gather biological information for the area of a planned Alcoa facility is the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) from Conservation International (CI).
Under CI’s direction, small RAP teams of expert international and host-country field biologists conduct rapid first-cut assessments of the biological value of selected areas over a short time period (three to four weeks).
The teams provide conservation recommendations based on the area’s biological diversity, the degree of endemism, the uniqueness of its ecosystems, and its risk of extinction on a national and global scale. RAP scientists record the diversity of selected indicator groups of organisms and analyze this information in tandem with social, environmental, and other ecosystem information to produce appropriate and realistic conservation recommendations. Typically, Alcoa, CI, and other RAP partners conduct a workshop with the community to discuss the findings and initiate conservation planning.
Recent RAPs conducted for proposed Alcoa projects include the following:
- Guinea: Refinery in the Boké prefecture.
- Ghana: Bauxite mining in the Atewa forest.
- Suriname: Bauxite mining in the Lely, Nassau, and Brownsberg areas.
By working with independent non-governmental organizations and a strong technical team, Alcoa helps ensure an open and objective assessment of the environmental impact of a proposed project while also building trust with the local community.
Valuable information from the RAP study of the Nassau Plateau in Suriname is currently being used to guide more detailed baseline and impact studies for a potential mine in this area.
Mining Reclamation Process
Our bauxite mine rehabilitation standard outlines the requirements for mine operation and mine closure for all Alcoa mines.
Where relatively extensive operations, such as bauxite mining, are carried out in natural habitats, rehabilitation of the disturbed land should, in most circumstances, favor the return of the pre-existing vegetation and fauna communities. Such rehabilitation should aim to re-establish the broadest practicable genetic base using only local species and provenances wherever possible.
Because biodiversity preservation is a major focus of the rehabilitation process, it is always a major component of any future land-use decision and rehabilitation plan. To determine the biodiversity of our rehabilitated land, we routinely monitor tree establishment and growth, understory density and diversity, seed production rate, litter density, and other parameters to determine the health of the vegetation. We also conduct periodic bird, mammal, reptile, and invertebrate counts for important groups of organisms, such as spiders (predators), ants (seed dispersal agents), and springtails and mites (active in leaf breakdown and nutrient recycling). In addition, we conduct extensive studies on surface water volumes and quality as well as groundwater levels and quality.
Our most advanced mine rehabilitation and biodiversity management program is at our Western Australia bauxite mines. In 2007, our environmental scientists, along with collaborators from local universities, prepared and published a special supplement to the journal Restoration Ecology titled “Ecosystem Restoration following Bauxite Mining in the Jarrah Forest of Western Australia.” This edition is dedicated entirely to the research and environmental management undertaken at these mines.
One of our key biodiversity performance targets is to try to reestablish the same level of plant species richness in rehabilitated areas as exists in the un-mined jarrah forest. To measure this, we monitor the number of local, indigenous plant species present when the rehabilitated areas are 15 months old. The 2007 rehabilitated areas returned the best-ever results, with the average number of species in rehabilitated areas exceeding the forest average by 8%.
Many strategies are applied to maximize the number of species re-establishing in rehabilitated areas. These include the return of fresh topsoil, broadcasting of collected and specially treated seed, and planting of nursery-grown plants from seeds, cuttings, and tissue culture. Cuttings and tissue culture propagation are used for species that generally don’t produce much, or any, viable seeds and reproduce vegetatively in the wild. In December 2008, Alcoa’s plant nursery produced its one millionth tissue culture plant for the mine rehabilitation program.
Our expertise in biodiversity management, mine rehabilitation, and land remediation at a number of global locations has been recognized at state, national, and international levels. We have implemented an active program to transfer this knowledge within the company, build local capacity, and get all locations worldwide operating at best practice standards.
In 2008, we completed the first substantial forest restoration work at the new Juruti mine in Brazil’s Amazon region. Borrow pits and roads used for the construction of the mine access road and railway were the first to be rehabilitated. Early experience with these sites will be invaluable for the future forest restoration work on mined areas. The mine is expected to commence production in the second half of 2009.
Clearing for the Juruti mine’s development has had some unavoidable impacts on native wildlife and habitat. A small team of field biologists, working in collaboration with a local museum, is based at the site to oversee the rescue and translocation of affected animals. Snakes, lizards, sloths, and monkeys have been rescued.
On the proactive side, a turtle egg rescue and hatching project funded by Alcoa is being undertaken by local community members in Juruti (see case study). Over-harvesting of eggs and hunting of adults for food has caused two turtle species to become locally threatened, and an accompanying education program aims to encourage sustainable harvesting of turtles.
One of our challenges is to measure our performance on biodiversity management. We recognize that this is a strategic environmental goal, but unlike emissions and discharges or the use of resources, it is difficult to find a metric that can be aggregated across our diverse businesses.
For land disturbed by mining, we track the status of our footprint and our objective of maintaining a progressive rehabilitation program (see tables). However, many of our facilities are not mines but still occupy, own, or manage land that is of substantial ecological value. These facilities do not necessarily disturb the land, but they may have negative or positive biodiversity impacts on it. In addition, our mine rehabilitation metric is quantitative but gives no indication of the quality of the rehabilitation in terms of meeting land use and biodiversity objectives.
We want to recognize what ecological impacts we might have at all these locations, minimize the negative ones, and promote the positive opportunities. To this end, we plan to initiate a requirement for all of our locations with substantive land holdings to develop biodiversity management plans. These plans will:
- Identify the biodiversity values of the land, including sensitive habitats and presence of threatened species, in context with surrounding land;
- Identify potential impacts, both positive and negative;
- Develop a management plan based on the hierarchy of biodiversity mitigation measures—avoid > minimize > rectify > compensate; and
- Set and report performance against site-specific targets.
During 2008, we commenced the rollout of biodiversity management plans, seeking advice from stakeholders and consulting with site personnel. In the future, we expect to report on the status of sites having established biodiversity management plans and their level of achievement of their plans’ goals.
Performance data
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Remediation
Alcoa currently counts 94 remediation locations around the world, some of which have been in continuous operation for around 100 years, and many since before the potential for significant environmental contamination was understood. We also have responsibility for addressing environmental contamination at more than 60 locations that are no longer operational but were once operated by Alcoa or by companies we acquired.
Some of the historical practices in use at these locations over the years, although acceptable in their time, have resulted in contamination of soil and/or groundwater. Today, we devote significant resources and an average of US$30 million annually to manage these sources of contamination.
Our remedial process is a science-based approach. It is used first to determine if and to what extent contamination exists and then to apply remedial techniques to manage or eliminate the problem. Our remediation process includes the following specific steps:
- Identification that there is a known or suspected problem.
- Investigation to determine the nature and extent of the problem.
- Determination of the risks to human health and the environment.
- Determination of requirements to achieve compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and Alcoa standards.
- Evaluation of the various remedial alternatives to address identified risks.
Where necessary, engagement of internal and external stakeholders in the selection of an appropriate remedial alternative.
- Implementation of the remedial technique and, where necessary, continued monitoring and management.
The primary objective of any remedial project at Alcoa is the protection of human health and the environment. There are challenges in meeting this goal, as we must first collect sufficient information using sound scientific assessments to understand the nature of the environmental condition. Another challenge is identifying remedial solutions that are protective, feasible, and economically sound. The third and possibly greatest challenge is balancing multiple needs, desires, and expectations within Alcoa, the community, and regulatory authorities while keeping science instead of emotion as the driver in selecting a remedial approach. The identified risks ultimately must be addressed to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders.
Undoubtedly, the best approach to remediation is to eliminate the need by avoiding situations that would cause contamination. For current operations, we aggressively manage environmental issues through comprehensive environmental management plans and more than 16 Alcoa-developed mandatory environmental standards that relate to proper management of wastes. Before a new process or equipment is developed or used, it must undergo an environment, health, and safety review. These are just a few of the steps we’re taking to prevent future problems.
Ten Million Trees
Launched on Earth Day in June 2003, Alcoa’s Ten Million Trees program counts and recognizes the trees personally planted by Alcoa employees worldwide. These trees are planted in addition to those used in revegetation programs that Alcoa routinely undertakes as part of its mine rehabilitation programs. Ten Million Trees is open to all employees, contractors, suppliers, and their families so that 10 million new trees, which can absorb more than 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year during their lifetime, can be in place by 2020.
Through the end of 2008, we have planted nearly 3 million trees. We will continue to offer programs each year in our communities to ensure the remaining trees are planted by 2020.
Additional information and updates can be found on the Ten Million Trees site.
Earthwatch Expeditions
Through Alcoa’s support for the Earthwatch Institute, our employees have the opportunity to participate in Earthwatch expeditions around the world. While helping add to the knowledge needed to build a sustainable future, this hands-on support for scientific field research offers a rich opportunity for personal development, nurtures relationships between environmental and business organizations, and helps raise awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s ecosystems.
In 2008, 15 employees participated in Earthwatch expeditions. These expeditioners, like those in previous years, shared their unique experiences through words and photographs posted on their individual diary pages. We are also sponsoring up to 15 employees in 2009, and their diaries will be written throughout the year.
Case Studies
Land Management Partnership in Australia Breaks New Ground
Decades-Long Remediation Effort Underscores Alcoa's Commitment
Amazon Mining Project Strives To Set Sustainability Benchmark
Saving the Turtles of the Amazon
Planting a Greener Future
Alcoa Earns Recognition for Environmental Clean-Up
Sustainable Logging Project Hits the Right Note
Unlocking the Reproductive Secrets of the Australian Jarrah Forest
Hydro Project Employed Simultaneous Construction, Rehabilitation
Land Reuse Project Brings Sustainable Income, Environmental Protection to Guinea Community
Partnership Serves as Recipe for Success in Land Conservation
Dedicated Alcoa Volunteers Plant Trees for the Long-Term
Bringing Sustainable Development to the Amazon
Vegetation Management Plan Reduces Risks, Increases Biodiversity
Alcoa Continues Mine Rehabilitation Leadership in Australia
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See a video of the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) in action
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