Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd
Newmont was founded in 1921 and is one of the world’s largest gold producers, with operations or assets in the United States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico and Ghana. It is within the latter of these countries that Earthwatch has formed a partnership with Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd.
Newmont is the only gold company included in the S&P 500 Index and Fortune 500. With headquarters near Denver in Colorado, it has approximately 31,000 employees and contractors around the world.
Newmont’s vision with regard to sustainability is to be the “most valued and respected mining company through industry leading performance”. They acknowledge that this vision will only be achieved by making a “lasting and positive contribution towards sustainable development through environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and the protection of the health and well-being of [employees/contractors]”.
Newmont Mining Corporation has made it clear that it is: "fully committed to exploring more collaborative solutions to the challenges of sustainability, in concert with governments, development agencies like the World Bank, nongovernmental organizations and civil society." As a fully owned subsidiary of the Newmont Mining Company operating in a developing country, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) has been at the front line of implementing this commitment. It was this shared interest in working cooperatively that led Earthwatch and NGGL to begin discussions that culminated in the signing of a five-year partnership agreement in March 2007.
Partnership Elements
Employee Learning and Engagement
During 2007, NGGL provided funding for four of its Ghanaian employees to participate on the Ghana-based Earthwatch project ‘Conserving the White-Necked Rock Fowl’ as volunteers for a period of two weeks. These members of staff joined a mixed employee-stakeholder team, forming a group with a variety of skills and expertise, giving them the opportunity to gain an increased understanding and awareness of conservation and nature in the region where NGGL operates.
On returning from the field work, employees gave presentations and wrote articles to share their experiences with colleagues. This programme offered the opportunity to make a difference to the environment whilst improving team-working skills, learning field research techniques and increasing understanding of the importance of environmental conservation in the context of NGGL's business.
After the success of the 2007 team, a subsequent team was run in 2008 for six company employees and four local conservationists nominated by long-standing Earthwatch partner the Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC), based in Ghana.
The following 2009 team was comprised similarly and was visited by a local media film crew.
Environmental Research
NGGL has made a five-year commitment to sponsor ’Conserving the White-Necked Rock Fowl’ project run by Earthwatch and its in-country partner, NCRC. Supporting this project enables NGGL to demonstrate a commitment to valid and important scientific research in forested areas within the Brong-Ahafo region where its mines are located.
The field research programme involves collaboration between Earthwatch, NCRC and local communities in order to conserve the white-necked rock fowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus). The project also provides a valuable opportunity for NGGL employees and stakeholders to get actively involved in scientific field research, looking to address environmental issues of direct relevance to the business.
Specifically, the project aims to:
- Enable Ghana to meet its obligations for conservation of white-necked rock fowl under the Convention of Biological Diversity (including Articles 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 & 17);
- Build capacity for rock fowl conservation across the range of the species in Ghana; and
- Establish a community-managed conservation initiative for viable rock fowl populations in Ghana.
The White-necked Rockfowl is endemic to the Upper Guinean forest block of West Africa. However, this species is under significant threat from rapid fragmentation and clearance of rainforest throughout its range. Consequently, it is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN international criteria for threatened species. Forest conversion, collecting of birds for export and human disturbance at nest sites have been cited as the main causes of its endangered status.
Community Investment
In 2007, NGGL funded four emerging Ghanaian conservationists and students to join their employees on Earthwatch's Conserving the White-Necked Rock Fowl project. This unique team provided participants with a professional networking opportunity, as well as a forum to share information and learn practical research techniques from experienced scientists in the field. NGGL repeated this successful venture in 2008 and 2009, funding a further 8 conservationists through the initiative.