Alcoa contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG) to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. In addition to the commitment to progressively recover mined areas to bring the area closer to its original state, Alcoa develops incentive programs, management of conservation units and protection of endangered species, such as the Project for the conservation of endangered native flora.
RECOVERY OF MINING AREAS
Alcoa seeks to minimize disturbance of any native habitat and avoid sensitive areas, and is committed to not exploring or operating in World Heritage sites. When areas are disturbed, the company works closely with the community and regulators to restore them.
The impacts on biodiversity depend on the type of operation and the company has developed good practices over the years in its units in the country, implementing forest restoration techniques and innovative industry processes to mitigate the impact on vegetation, animals and natural resources. For example, bauxite mining requires the removal of native vegetation. Alcoa uses rehabilitation techniques to recover mined areas and has set a bold goal: for every 1 hectare opened, 1 hectare will be closed by 2030. In 2016, 125.8 hectares of mined areas were restored by Alcoa Brasil.
At the Juruti unit, the recovery of mined areas seeks technological innovation within the ecosystem vision: application of the nucleation method in the Amazon region, which aims to stimulate the natural characteristics of the soil. The process creates water retention micro-basins to prevent erosion and increase the capacity to retain moisture that will be used by plants during the dry season, increasing the chances of seedlings thriving.
At the Poços de Caldas (MG) unit, a methodology was developed for using plastic tarps around seedlings of native species in environmental restoration areas, with the aim of combating the advance of invasive exotic species that affect the development of native species, as they compete for nutrients, eliminating the use of any chemical product to carry out this control.
MANGROVE RECOVERY
The Alumar unit works on the Mangrove Recovery Project in degraded areas in the coastal zone of the state of Maranhão, in partnership with the Federal University of Maranhão and the local community. The project develops three fronts: mangrove reforestation; research, technology and innovation in recovery; and community environmental education.
By 2016, the project had restored ecosystem services provided by 1.3 hectares of natural aquatic nursery in the Araçagi region of Maranhão. With university training, community members were compensated to collect, develop, plant and monitor the growth of more than 18,000 native seedlings in the mangrove. As a result, monkeys, scarlet ibises and crabs have returned to the restored area. The project also stimulated community interest in environmental education, with the installation of a local library, signs about mangrove preservation and improper disposal of garbage in the area.
PLANTING NATIVE TREES
Through the Alcoa Foundation, in partnership with the Global ReLeaf program, the company encourages community engagement in planting native trees in the regions where we operate. In Brazil, in 2016, 24,600 trees were planted in the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon, under the leadership of local partners. It should be noted that this initiative does not count against or replace any mandatory rehabilitation activities in mined areas.
In the Ribeira Valley, SP, 2,100 seedlings were planted by the Vale Ecological Corridor Association (ACEVP). The native seedlings from the Atlantic Forest helped to restore the native forest near the Jaguari dam.
In Juruti, 20,000 seedlings were planted in partnership with the Vitória Régia Institute. The goal was to develop environmental protection and education actions led by local communities, together with Alcoa volunteers. This initiative made it possible to mitigate CO2 emissions from the operation of trains at the Juruti Mine, giving rise to the “Green Locomotive” program.
