IUCN collaborates with private sector partner Black Mountain Mining, Subsidiary

of Vedanta Resources Plc, to develop a Sustainable Biodiversity Management

System in the Namaqualand Region

IUCN collaborates with private sector partner Black Mountain Mining, Subsidiary

of Vedanta Resources Plc, to develop a Sustainable Biodiversity Management

System in the Namaqualand Region

The Namaqualand in South Africa contains ecologically sensitive ecosystems with

critical value for biodiversity conservation, local livelihoods, eco-tourism and agriculture.

Researchers highlight that Namaqualand plant and faunal diversity is particularly

vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts and climate change and therefore needs to be at

the forefront of the development agenda in the region.

Following the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, the South African

Department of Minerals & Energy (DME) initiated a Strategic Framework for Sustainable

Development in The Mining Sector. The framework envisioned that by 2010 the South

African minerals and petroleum sector would be able to contribute optimally to

sustainable development through sustainable and responsible mining. To achieve this

vision; Black Mountain Mining (BMM) Operations, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources

Plc, has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to

develop a Sustainable Biodiversity Management System at the proposed Gamsberg

zinc mining site in the Northern Cape Province to enhance and diversify rural livelihoods

within the Gamsberg ecosystem and surrounding regions (i.e. Namaqualand) through

support to green enterprise development and innovative biodiversity and livelihood

options and technologies.

Under the aegis of this partnership an Independent Review Panel (IRP) with leading

experts in the field of environment, biodiversity and environmental law has been set up

to provide advice on programmes that will avoid, mitigate or offset biodiversity impacts

during operations and at mine closure, to ensure rehabilitation planning and

implementation at Gamsberg and to review and provide technical advice on BMM's

Biodiversity Management System.

A Biodiversity and Livelihoods Coordination Committee (BLCC) has been set up with

former judge A. Gildenhuys as an independent chairperson, to oversee and advise on

BMM's corporate social responsibility programmes in Namaqualand. This will be carried

out in collaboration with conservation and development Non-Governmental

Organizations ("NGOs") and community based organisations ("CBOs") operating within

the region.

For more information on IUCN and BMM partnership related activities please visit:

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/esaro/what_we_do/biodiversity__eco

nomics_and_business/

For more information contact:

Lael.Walsh@iucn.org (Senior Programme Officer/Manager-IUCN)

LAhuja@blackmountain.co.za (Head Sustainability-Zinc International, Vedanta)