Biodiversity
GRI 304-1, SASB EM-MM-160a.1We acknowledge our responsibility to conserve biodiversity in general and local species and their habitats. Our assets are not located within World Heritage Sites or specially protected natural areas or areas of high biodiversity value. EVRAZ assesses risks on biodiversity and aims to minimise potential impacts at all stages of asset`s life cycle. We focus on risks and impacts mitigation starting from project design stage.
Biodiversity is being one of priorities for EVRAZ. Acknowledging that biodiversity degradation and losses is the global problem, our company aims to apply best practices. To follow this comprehensive goal company started time-phased plan for its realisation. The Group aims to ensure a rational and prudent approach to conserving biodiversity. We are also actively involved in communication with local communities regarding biodiversity issues.
The Group takes its obligations to restore land disturbed during mining operations seriously. To achieve this, we undertake environmental activities and rehabilitation projects.
In 2021, the project for land reclamation was completed at the Abagur plant (Novokuznetsk), serving the Mines «Sheregeshskaya», «Tashtagolskaya» and «Kazskaya» The Company allocated US$61,000 for its implementation. The restoration work commenced in 2020 and included two stages of reclamation: technical and biological. A plot with a total area
Reclamation contributed to the recovery of the lands to a safe state for the environment and the community, as well as restoring their value and soil fertility, making them suitable for further use in economic activities.
Activities and rehabilitation projects in 2021
In 2021, with the financial support of EVRAZ, the research was conducted with the aim of safeguarding the population of aquatic salmon species, particularly Siberian taimen, in the Khabarovsk Territory’s Tuguro-Chumikansky district. The work was conducted in collaboration with the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography” and LLC “shTurMan-2”. Overfishing by unlicensed fishing teams and poaching are the primary threats to Russia’s salmon species. One solution is to establish sports and amateur fishing, in which the flow of fishers is regulated through the granting of “caught and released” and “caught and seized" licences. The catch-and-release method has grown in popularity in several nations over the last 30–40 years, and numerous scientific studies have been conducted to demonstrate its usefulness as a fish protection technique.
EVRAZ supported the research project “Determining Siberian taimen mortality during recreational fishing in the Tugur river basin.” In particular, test recreational fishing trips for amateur anglers were conducted, and observations of taimen were taken for which quotas were secured. This enabled scientists to determine how many of the released fish survive and what factors contribute to the mortality of the remaining animals. The project activities should contribute to the preservation of the unique natural complex of the Konin and Tugur rivers' water areas, organisation of scientific, cultural, and educational work on the study of salmon and aquatic fish species in the rivers of the Tugur-Chumikansky district of the Khabarovsk Territory, and promotion of development and implementation of measures to mitigate human impact on natural ecosystems.
EVRAZ regularly releases various species of fry into water bodies. Our approach to preserving the biodiversity involves an intent to maintain the quality of the aquatic ecosystems and the existing biodiversity. In 2021 we released 375,000 various species of fish into water bodies, compared with 204,000 in 2020.
In 2021, the Group contributed to landscaping and biodiversity support through several measures.
Environmental specialists from Mine «Raspadskaya» released 78,000 fish fry into the rivers of the
The fish fry was raised in a special reservoir at the Tomsk Research and Production Fish Breeding Complex. As soon as the juveniles reach a weight of one and a half grams they are released into the river. Every year the employees carry out activities for restoring the biological resources in water bodies.
In addition, over 3,300 young grass carp, silver carp and carp were released into the Tagil Pond. These are herbivorous reclamation fish. They purify the pond by eating plant debris and harmful microalgae, that negatively affect the condition of the pond.
As regards tree planting, EVRAZ planted 757,000 trees in 2021 as part of its strategy, 99% of those were contributed by EVRAZ KGOK, which restored almost 250 hectares of forest in the Sverdlovsk region (at the territories of the Verkhotursky and Novo-Lyalinsky forestries, near the villages of Staraya Lyalya and Chernichny) under the obligation to replenish the territories that were included in the first stage of the Sobstvenno-Kachkanarskoye field (SKM) development. As a result, around 750,000 conifers were planted.