Vedanta Aluminium collaborates with ERM India to bolster Biodiversity Management Plan
22nd May 2023New Delhi; 22nd May 2023: On International Day of Biological Diversity, Vedanta Aluminium, the largest aluminium producer in India, announced its collaboration with ERM India, a renowned environmental consulting firm, to enhance its Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP). The collaboration will aim to reinforce the implementation of biodiversity management practices across the operations of Vedanta Aluminium, marking a significant step towards its commitment to sustainable and responsible business operations.
As part of the collaboration, ERM India will assess and bolster Vedanta Aluminium’s biodiversity conservation efforts focusing on operations across different locations and evaluating the overall impact using metrics and tools of global standards. Based on the assessment, ERM India will suggest actions to further strengthen the company’s efforts to foster biodiversity around its operations which will ultimately lead to generating positive actions and help mitigate climate change. This will help Vedanta Aluminium create a roadmap with enhanced actions to nurture biodiversity and establish new goals, including Science-Based Targets for Nature, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable development.
Vedanta Aluminium strives to incorporate the principles of ‘Lifestyle for Environment – LiFE,’ an initiative by the Government of India and enhance its efforts to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 & 15 focusing on conserving aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.
Mr Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business commented on the announcement, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we recognize the critical role of biodiversity conservation in sustainable business operations. We always strive for more sustainable and environmentally conscious practices, demonstrating our firm commitment to the preservation of nature for generations to come. We look forward to our collaboration with ERM India to bolster our Biodiversity Management Plan and strengthen the implementation of biodiversity management practices. This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. Together with ERM India, we aim to assess and enhance our biodiversity conservation efforts, aligning them with global standards and best practices. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.”
Speaking about the collaboration, Dr Arun Venkataraman, Technical Consulting Director, ERM India said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Vedanta Aluminium in their commendable efforts to bolster their Biodiversity Management Plan and strengthen biodiversity management practices. We aim to deploy tools and metrics of global standards to help the company enhance their repertoire of biodiversity initiatives. Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to sustainable business operations and its recognition of the critical role of biodiversity conservation is remarkable. We also wish to learn from the success of their approaches in establishing sustainable practices and ensuring inclusive development.”
On the occasion of International Day of Biological Diversity, Vedanta Aluminium embarked on a range of projects across its business units in Odisha and Chhattisgarh:
- Over the past few years, Vedanta Aluminium has made substantial contributions to the wildlife conservation of species protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act across Balco and Jharsuguda.
- Awareness sessions for the local villagers were organized to protect the endangered Yellow Monitor Lizard that is hunted to make traditional medicine.
- The company launched a conservation project to protect over 30 species of butterflies, several protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, through the establishment of a new butterfly park at Jharsuguda.
- To protect the vulnerable Chloroxylon swietenia, commonly known as Ceylon Satinwood, the company planted saplings of this species at Jharsuguda.
- The company also undertook the restoration of several local waterbodies around its business units to rejuvenate the aquatic life and support the livelihoods of the local communities. So far Vedanta Aluminium has restored over 40 local water bodies in areas of Odisha and Chhattisgarh for community use.
- Several women under the Vedanta Sakhi project at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district were selected to participate in the apiculture (beekeeping) training, where they learnt about different honeybee species, beekeeping equipment, and the installation of bee colonies.
- Installation of birdhouses and nests in the company’s operational areas was undertaken to support the local avian species. Watering stations were installed across peripheral areas to provide hydration for birds and animals during hot weather.
- Vedanta Aluminium also collaborated with school students to organize plantation drives, where the students pledged their dedication to conservation efforts.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
About Vedanta Aluminium Business:
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com
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