Rio Tinto plc
Rio Tinto is a world leader in finding, mining and processing mineral resources.
A global partnership between Rio Tinto and the Earthwatch Institute, including the offices in Australia and Europe, was established in January 1999 and continues to develop successfully. This partnership uses the resources of both organisations to plan programs and work towards improving biodiversity strategies, scientific research, communication and public understanding of biodiversity conservation. The partnership is aligned with Rio Tinto's own biodiversity strategy and works against the background of appropriate international conventions relating particularly to Articles 35, 36 & 37 of Agenda 21 and Chapters 12 & 13 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
The partnership aims to educate a wide audience about biodiversity issues and improve biodiversity conservation in specific areas. This is achieved directly through stakeholder engagement programmes which are being developed and evolved in a new phase of the partnership, beginning in 2005. To date over 60 Rio Tinto employees have participated in biodiversity field projects ranging from conservation of frogs in Australia to forest fragment viability in Brazil. The employee programme has lead to cross-cultural understanding and has helped to reinforce awareness amongst employees of Rio Tinto's commitment to responsible environmental management. The partnership also delivers lectures, corporate events and publications which engage and educate other companies and non governmental organisations in the relationship between business and biodiversity.
The partnership supports capacity building for developing counties in Africa and Indonesia through supporting and recruiting individuals through Earthwatch projects from areas of geographical interest to Rio Tinto. The practical training aims to provide young scientists with the skills and confidence to engage in their own research programme and bridges the gap to enable NGO workers and park staff to participate in data collection and processing.
Financial support from Rio Tinto allows for global field research on biodiversity by Earthwatch and this in turn increases the scientific data and improves conservation outcomes on a range of issues