Biodiversity

Biodiversity and its management are of strategic importance to Rio Tinto Coal Australia. The regions in which we work such as the Bowen Basin of central Queensland and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales are recognised and valued locally and regionally for their biodiversity resources. Additionally, the Traditional Owners have long understood the interconnectedness of the environment and place great value on livelihood, spiritual and customary resources.

Our approach

Rio Tinto Coal Australia operates three coal mines in the Bowen Basin of Central Queensland, with a fourth currently under development. While the business already has a good understanding of its landholdings' biodiversity features, it recently developed a new regional biodiversity action plan as part of the implementation of Rio Tinto's biodiversity strategy.

Adopting a regional approach to managing biodiversity risks and opportunities enables Rio Tinto Coal Australia to both manage site-specific issues as well as implement programmes that could deliver conservation outcomes across the Bowen Basin. For example, these could include enhancing regional populations and corridor and habitat connectivity, which includes species or habitats found across several Rio Tinto Coal Australia sites - such as brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), bluegrass communities and koalas.

As part of the biodiversity action plan process, Rio Tinto Coal Australia focused on understanding the flora and fauna communities and species known (or suspected) to be present on and adjacent to its four sites. Each species or community was summarised by its legislative status then assessed on its vulnerability and irreplacability. By taking a risk-based approach, the species or communities with the highest biodiversity risk for Rio Tinto Coal Australia have been identified and appropriate actions prioritised.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia's biodiversity action plan will be rolled out across all four Bowen Basin operations. Proposed actions include:

Site-specific enhancement and restoration activities
Academic research to improve understanding of species' lifecycle requirements
Activities that seek to enhance regional conservation outcomes.

Download a fact sheet about our biodiversity action plans.

Read more about our approach to land management.

Read more about our Koala Venture partnership