Land Use And Biodiversity
We at AEL strongly believe that the sustainability of our businesses is intricately linked with the ecosystem in which we operate. Protecting and enhancing biodiversity is an integral part of the AEL’s commitment to sustainable development. Integrating the need for biodiversity conservation into operational decision-making processes and taking measures to minimize impacts is a commitment across each of our businesses.
In line with our commitment, we have developed a comprehensive Biodiversity Policy. This policy serves as a guiding framework for identifying and evaluating biodiversity-related impacts and risks at project sites throughout their lifecycle. By adhering to this policy, our aim is to minimize our ecological footprint and contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity.
Tree Plantation: Pledge on 1t.org
The Adani Group has made a pledge on the World Economic Forum’s Trillion Trees Platform (1t.org) to grow 100 million trees by 2030. The target for AEL is to grow 15.39 million trees by 2030 through terrestrial plantations.
Biodiversity Management Practices and Commitments of AEL:
Committed to Biodiversity Preservation
We aim to align our no net loss to biodiversity approach with The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework to guide our efforts in preserving biodiversity.
Biodiversity Risk Assessment
We integrate Biodiversity Impact Assessment into the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process for both greenfield and brownfield projects requiring clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)..
Biodiversity Management Plan
A Biodiversity Management Plan is prepared based on the baseline study on biodiversity conducted for the project influence area and the likely impacts of the project on the biodiversity.
Compensatory Afforestation
In our Mining Services business, we have implemented compensatory afforestation. The plantation plan within the mine lease area, as well as compensatory afforestation, is being finalized in consultation with State Forest Department (SFD).
Wildlife Hazard Management Plan
AEL conducts rigorous assessments and implements proactive measures to mitigate risks posed by wildlife to its operations. Through collaboration with external experts and adherence to regulatory guidelines, we ensure the safety of our operational facilities while preserving biodiversity.
Case studies
Dedicated to “No Net Loss”
In addition to adhering to all applicable legislation in India, we have linked our operations with the principles of sustainable mining established by the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are dedicated to a ‘No Net Loss’ strategy for places organically related to our mining operations.
The creation of green belts in and around our mining sites has been a significant action area that we have aggressively pursued. The trees that are planted on the overburden surrounding mines and at the mining lease boundaries assist to reduce dust pollution, absorb carbon emissions, and preserve the region’s biodiversity.
Over the years, our initiatives to restore the natural ecosystem has helped us in biological and physical land reclamation. We assumed land reclamation activities in our mining business and achieved biological reclamation of 327.57 Ha, since the commencement of our operations at PEKB.
Sustainable Mining through Adani Intelligent Mining
Adani Intelligent Mining (AIM) is a digital program used for tracking the end-to-end life cycle of our mining projects – from design to site closure. The platform is automated and uses data of our mines to understand gaps, suggest operationally efficient outcomes in our day-to-day workings, enhances supply chains and helps in implementing optimal solutions. It assists with pre-project exploration through advanced geological modeling and satellite imagery.
AIM has helped us in optimizing our coal logistics through increased efficiency of lead management. It also carries out conditioning monitoring, a process that predicts the health of machines and suggests maintenance approaches. Further, the programme aids us in pursuing the use of alternative fuels in our mining operations such as biodiesel and hydrogen, by creating predictive models. AIM also plays an instrumental role in regulating health and safety issues in our operations.
The integration of this program resulted in better asset maintenance, productivity tracking and improved safety efforts. Most importantly, we have been able to improve our environmental management and reduce energy usage in our operations.
Biodiversity Action Plan for PEKB Mining Site, Chhattisgarh
The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for PEKB mining site was created with an objective to conserve the biodiversity around the mine and to fairly share the benefits that could arise from its use. The plan not only aimed to reduce the impact of the operations that mining can have on its surroundings, but also to restore the natural systems to a level of recovery.
An Ecosystem Service Matrix was created that highlighted the levels of dependencies, impacts and management approaches based on a scale with four levels ranging from high impact to no impact. An analysis on the species diversity index was also conducted to assess the potential species being impacted.
Based on this, the BAP proposed recovery and restoration plans for topsoil conservation and erosion controls, reclamation and afforestation of overburdened areas and installation of nest boxes for bird diversity.
Dedicated to “No Net Loss”
In addition to adhering to all applicable legislation in India, we have linked our operations with the principles...
Sustainable Mining through Adani Intelligent Mining
Adani Intelligent Mining (AIM) is a digital program used for tracking the end-to-end life cycle of our mining projects.....
Biodiversity Action Plan for PEKB Mining Site, Chhattisgarh
The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for PEKB mining site was created with an objective to conserve the biodiversity ....