From Vision to Action: Nature Stewardship in Mining under the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework

Nature, including biodiversity, is deteriorating worldwide at unprecedented rates. Drivers of nature loss include the spread of invasive species, changes in land and sea use, climate change, pollution and exploitation of natural resources. Contribution to these drivers can be associated with the different phases of the mining life cycle, up to and including post-closure.Global frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals call for urgent action to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. As a resource company with a significant land portfolio, BHP recognises its opportunity to contribute to global targets by effectively managing land to enhance outcomes for biodiversity in the areas that we operate.At BHP, our vision is to contribute towards global efforts to halt and reverse nature loss and collective goals on nature. Designed as part of our contribution, our 2030 Healthy environment goal is to create nature positive outcomes by having at least 30 per cent of the land and water we steward under conservation, restoration or regenerative practices, was announced in June 2022. The goal prioritises areas of highest ecosystem value and emphasises partnerships with Indigenous peoples and local communities to ensure that cultural values and knowledge contribute on-ground management efforts.To safeguard the integrity and credibility of our nature projects disclosed under the goal, we developed a framework of principles that projects are assessed against prior to disclosure. The principles include criteria for long-term projects with clear actions that support nature uplift in partnership with Indigenous peoples and local communities, and will be applied as a final screening step during the project identification phase. Through this framework, BHP aims to deliver positive outcomes for nature that enhance biodiversity, support climate resilience, and create opportunities for positive social impact, and meaningfully contribute to global efforts to halt and reverse nature loss.