Hydro Annual Report 2011b

54
vIABIlItY perForMAnCe
Resource management
See the big picture
“If we assume that it is good to use aluminium – partly because it
is a light metal that impacts the environment less when it is used
than other materials – then it should be acceptable to extract
aluminium’s raw material, bauxite. However, the extraction of
bauxite will often be controversial since it is found mainly in
tropical areas where there are rain forests with rich biodiversity
and extensive carbon storage. The extraction must take place with
great awareness of the responsibilities that it entails, so that the
biological footprint that is left can be as small as possible.”
Peter Johan Schei,
Director, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
Read full interview at www.hydro.com/reporting2011
The ongoing loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems
represent long-term risks for the industry and society at
large. We see a need for more sustainable frameworks and are
participating in several initiatives, including the WBCSD Ecosystem
program. In 2011, Hydro became a member of the
International Council of Mining and Metals, which gives us
access to their principles and guidelines on the environment as
well as an arena for sharing best practices.
Through our revised environmental strategy in 2011, we have
established an aspiration toward no net loss of biodiversity.
Land management and reforestation
Hydro’s bauxite mining involves removing topsoil and overburden
by machinery to extract the bauxite deposits below.
The overburden at Paragominas is normally 8-to-10 meters
Monitoring and improving
reforestation efforts
Hydro has a 5 percent stake in MRN, in Pará in Brazil, and is an
offtaker of 45 percent of its production. The mine is within the
borders of the Saracá-Taquera national forest, which is a part of
the Amazon rain forest. Before starting extraction of bauxite, the
existing vegetation is cleared. Any clearance is subject to approval
from the federal environment authorities ICMbio. Reforestation
starts as soon as a mining area is closed. The company owns the
mining rights to 25,000 hectares, of which 7,000 are so far affected.
Of these, 4,000 hectares have been reforested. The oldest areas
have reached a profile that reminds of the original state. Still, many
more years are needed to reach a level where the flora and fauna
are recovered. Beehives were installed in February 2011 in the
reforested areas older than 10 years, as a means to accelerate this
process. In addition to increased pollination, the beehives provide
extra income to the surrounding communities of traditional Amazon
peoples. The collection of seeds from local species and planting of
the seedlings also are sources of income for the local communities.
The areas are thoroughly surveyed. Since 1997, about 50 Master’s
theses and 25 PhD theses have studied the flora and fauna in the
reforested areas. MRN has used 450 different plant species in total
in the rehabilitation. Today, 120 different species are normally used,
including epiphytes like bromeliads and orchids.
thick. As soon as the bauxite has been extracted from one area,
the overburden and topsoil are refilled and the process for
rehabilitation can begin. Bauxite extraction started in Paragominas
in 2006. The reforestation program started in 2009 and
will continue untill beyond 2040 in the present area. A reclamation
program is established where the landscape is systematically
shaped back to how it looked before mining. The
topsoil is then added and seedlings are planted in a grid in the
areas prepared. The seedlings will establish a forest system of
the same structure as that which is typical in the pristine forest
in the areas. It will still take a few years to acheive a balance
between land impacted by mining operations and land rehabilitated.
The present tailings dams will be full between 2015
and 2020, and work will soon be initiated to optimize the closure
and reforestation of these tailings.
The Paragominas mine is located in what is normally recognized
as the deforestation belt around the central Amazon
River. The mining area has been exposed to selective logging
and clear cutting of forest for development of subsequent pasture
land. In terms of land use, the municipality of Paragominas
has seen, over a period of almost 20 years, more than 30
percent reduction in its forest cover, an increase of 6 percent in
secondary forests and about 20 percent of the area is still pasture.
However, in recent years the municipality has been in the
forefront in Brazil in halting the illegal and uncontrolled
logging.
When bauxite extraction is finalized, rehabilitation is started.
Hydro’s Paragominas mine started production in 2006, and
the reforestation program started in 2009. We have identified
improvement potential with regard to reforestation and wildlife
management at Paragominas, and are evaluating possible
adjustments. In total 853 hectares of land was disturbed during
2011 and approximately 4,700 hectares since the start of
the mining operations. In 2011 we rehabilitated 142 hectares,
while about 400 hectars have been rehabilitated in total since
the operations started in 2006.
A reforestation assessment performed by Hydro in 2011
reviewed areas close to the mine which have been exposed to
selective logging. The study found that the main structure of
the forest ecosystems was still in place, even though most of
the commercially interesting trees had been logged. We have
identified improvement potential related to reforestation and
wildlife management at Paragominas, and are evaluating possible
adjustments.
Hydro has exploration activities in several areas in Brazil. In
connection with such activities, Hydro has been alleged to
have been involved in illegal logging in a preservation area in
Minas Gerais, and is under public investigation.
Hydro’s minority share in the bauxite mine and alumina refinery
Alpart in Jamaica was sold in September 2011.