International Day for Biological Diversity 2025

Protecting the biodiversity of the Espinhaço mountain range in Brazil

In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2025, we are commemorating the work we are doing in Brazil to protect the biodiversity of the Espinhaço mountain range that surrounds our Minas-Rio operations.

Serra do Espinhaço, or the Espinhaço mountain range, located in the east of Brazil, is an area of high biological diversity. Spanning a 1,200-kilometer stretch, running roughly north and south from Xique-Xique in the sertão (hinterland) of Bahia to the Iron Ore Quadrangle in Minas Gerais – home to Anglo American’s Minas-Rio iron ore operation – the Espinhaço mountain range was recognised by UNESCO as a “Terrestrial Biosphere Reserve” in 2005. In addition to occupying a large transition area of three biomes – Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga – Serra do Espinhaço also contains the headwaters of three of the most important Brazilian river systems: the São Francisco, the Rio Doce and the Jequitinhonha.

In line with the Healthy Environment pillar of our Sustainable Mining Plan, Anglo American is committed to protecting biodiversity in the regions where we operate. In the state of Minas Gerais alone, Anglo American maintains approximately 22,000 hectares of protected land. This land is designated for biodiversity offsetting, permanent preservation (APPs) and legal reserves, creating a patchwork of protected areas across Minas Gerais and the southern regions of the Espinhaço mountain range.

This network of protected areas has enabled the creation of ecological corridors that preserve biodiversity in the region. Supported by responsible, transparent and proactive management, these protected areas have potential to generate a Net Positive Impact (NPI) for biodiversity, meaning the environmental gains obtained by initiatives undertaken in these areas have outweighed negative impacts.

These ecological corridors allow flora and fauna the space to live and grow, and act as a form of open-air laboratory for a wide variety of plant and animal species, where they are protected and nurtured in conditions in which they can thrive. These protected areas are also crucial for the preservation of the natural water systems, including springs and water courses, that flow through the southern Espinhaço, and which in turn support the biological balance of the region.

NITRO Historias Visuals

Commenting on the importance of ecological corridors in preserving biodiversity, Barbara Almeida Souza, Biodiversity Specialist at Anglo American in Brazil, said: "In alignment with global goals, as set out by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, especially regarding the target of conserving 30% of land by 2030, restoring connectivity through ecological corridors is essential. Particularly in fragmented landscapes like the Atlantic Forest, ecological corridors play a key role in supporting species movement, ecosystem resilience, and long-term conservation success." These ecological corridors breathe new life into previously fragmented habitats, and allow the gene flow of fauna and flora, essential to help restore adversely impacted areas.

As a result of these efforts, and other initiatives undertaken by Anglo American in Brazil, to date:

More than 22,000 hectares of the Atlantic Forest biome have been preserved (equivalent to approximately 22,000 soccer fields).
Along the Santo Antônio River in Minas Gerais, 23 springs and 8,000 meters of permanent preservation areas have been restored.
And through our support for the Amazon Protected Areas Program (Arpa), we have contributed to the conservation of 60 million hectares in the region.

Partnerships to protect nature

The conservation of biodiversity requires a broad range of interventions from a wide variety of stakeholders, from governments and companies to civil society entities and communities.

Anglo American cannot protect the natural environments surrounding our operations alone, so we have partnered with universities for scientific research, with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the restoration of degraded environments, and with civil society in implementing environmental education and promotion initiatives.

One such initiative has involved a partnership with the Espinhaço Institute in a spring regeneration project at the head of the Santo Antônio river in Conceição do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais. In 2023, this project was recognised by UNESCO as an important ecohydrology project that is now available for review and reference by UNESCO partners all over the world. The project was also evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a Nature-based Solution, meaning it engages in activities that protect and restore nature, to address challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and human well-being.

Anglo American has also worked with the Espinhaço Institute to support rural landowners, with activities such as fencing, planting native saplings and monitoring vegetation. The project is also developing a network of local leaders and providing training in environmental education to encourage people to get involved in looking after the environment.

In 2023, we reopened our Science Centre in Conceição do Mato Dentro after a major refurbishment, as a cultural and learning hub run by Anglo American. The refurbished building now features a range of new, more interactive attractions and is more accessible to the public. The reopening of the building was part of the celebrations organised to mark Anglo American’s first 50 years in Brazil.

Claudiana Souza, Sustainability Coordinator at Anglo American in Brazil, said: “The Science Centre is a space where the community can connect with science, nature and local knowledge. By promoting environmental education and encouraging curiosity, we’re helping to empower future generations and strengthen the region’s capacity to care for its natural heritage. This is how we turn sustainability into a shared journey.”

NITRO Historias Visuals

The Science Centre helps to bring our Sustainable Mining Plan to life. Its features include a butterfly farm, an environmental monitoring room, a seedling nursery, and a themed garden filled with indigenous plant species found in the area. There is also a workshop and an amphitheatre, which are available for use by schools, researchers, and the local community – all of which support our aim of protecting the natural environment and leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

These valuable partnerships, which are key to Anglo American’s Sustainable Mining Plan, have been critical in helping to achieve the fruitful results that have been realised so far, and will be critical in the future, as we continue to strive to have a Net Positive Impact on biodiversity in the regions where we operate.

All image credits to: NITRO Historias Visuals

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