Barrick’s Leadership in Sustainable Mining Confirmed by New Biodiversity Tool

In a pioneering development for sustainable mining, Barrick has put into practice a tool designed to transform how the Company assesses its impact on biodiversity.

This innovative step marks a significant departure from traditional methods of qualifying impacts, empowering Barrick to measure its biodiversity impacts, both negative and positive, with greater accuracy and clarity.

The tool, named the Biodiversity Residual Impact Assessment tool (BRIA), is the product of years of research and collaboration with third-party experts. Driven by a commitment to align corporate goals with rigorous scientific standards, BRIA goes beyond mere estimations and guesswork, offering tangible metrics that inform actionable conservation strategies and, in time to come, targets to measure against.

Quantifying impacts

“At Barrick, we recognize the importance of setting goals that are not only ambitious but also grounded in scientific evidence,” says Grant Beringer, Barrick’s sustainability executive. “This tool allows us to quantify both positive and negative impacts on biodiversity across our operations worldwide. This capability is an important step in our journey towards sustainable mining.”

Central to Barrick's approach is the integration of Key Biodiversity Features (KBFs) into its Biodiversity Standard. These features, identified through comprehensive ecological assessments and baselines, represent critical habitats and species that are prioritized for conservation or rehabilitation efforts. BRIA facilitates the development of Measurable Conservation Actions (MCAs), making sure that every initiative is tailored to maximize positive outcomes for biodiversity. It’s a tool that was designed largely for Barrick’s operations but will also be used to quantify impacts on some of its external conservation initiatives such as the support it provides to the Garamba National Park in the DRC.

Maximum biodiversity values

The tool has already been trialed at two of its operations, Carlin and Pueblo Viejo, and has quantified the positive impacts Barrick has had in terms of its efforts on riparian habitat restoration and conservation in both regions. The tool will elevate the Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs), developed by each site and part of Barrick’s Sustainability Scorecard, by helping the sites focus their actions on those areas that are the most important from a habitat perspective. The tool also unlocks an opportunity to direct its reclamation actions at its closed mines to ensure that maximum biodiversity values at these sites are achieved.

“Our commitment to biodiversity conservation is not just a component of our sustainability strategy; it's a fundamental part of how we do business,” says Mark Bristow. “With BRIA we are able to measure, monitor and mitigate our impact on biodiversity with greater certainty, empowering us to take proactive steps towards preserving natural ecosystems, while enhancing the resilience of species and habitats.”

The deployment of BRIA underscores Barrick's leadership in sustainable mining and sets a new standard for the industry. By embracing data-driven insights and fostering partnerships with local communities and conservation experts, Barrick aims to achieve meaningful and lasting impacts on biodiversity conservation.