Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd
In its 2006 sustainability report, ‘Beyond The Mine', the Newmont Mining Corporation makes 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 partnership agreement in March 2007.
Under the agreement, NGGL became part of Earthwatch's Corporate Environmental Responsibility Group (CERG), joining a network of leading companies committed to improving business and biodiversity knowledge and practice. It also made a four year commitment to sponsor the project Conserving the White-Necked Rock Fowl run by Earthwatch and its in-country partner, the Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) of Ghana.
Partnership Elements
Stakeholder Involvement
NGGL joined the Earthwatch Corporate Environmental Responsibility Group (CERG) in 2007 and are working together to share biodiversity knowledge and seek new ways of working together.
Employee Engagement
During 2007, NGGL provided funding for four of its local Ghanaian employees to participate on the 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 offers 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.
Community Investment
In 2007, NGGL funded 4 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.
Environmental Research
Supporting Earthwatch's Conserving the White-Necked Rock Fowl 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
- 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 but is under significant threat from rapid fragmentation and clearance of rainforest throughout its range. The species 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 the species endangered status.
In Ghana, the species was not uncommon in the early 1960's but there had been no reports of the bird for almost 40 years until 2003 when a research team discovered a breeding site during a bird survey. Thirteen rock fowl colonies have now been recorded within the adjoining Subim, Ayum and Bonsambepo Forest Reserves. This population is the most important one of this vulnerable species found in Ghana. Improving its conservation status is of global importance.