In 2008 the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) commissioned the fourth in its series of Bauxite Mine Rehabilitation Surveys with the aim to collect global data on the environmental impacts of bauxite mines and their rehabilitation programmes and the social and economic impacts of such operations.

Good environmental management before and during operations and post mining rehabilitation, which ensure that all potential land-use options are conserved, is one way in which the industry is meeting its responsibility for protecting biodiversity. Operations are conserving and in many cases improving the natural capital in areas in which they mine, through the identification of possible environmental impacts and by taking appropriate action to understand, monitor and minimize these impacts.

Approximately one tonne of aluminium metal is produced for each square meter of land area used for mining of the bauxite.

Over the five year period 2002-2006, the average annual rehabilitation area of existing bauxite mining areas is equal to the average annual area being opened up. In this steady state environment, bauxite mining is “land area footprint neutral” and sustainable. The reporting mines have plans to rehabilitate more than 90% of the total area that was used for bauxite mining and infrastructure since operations commenced almost 70 years ago.

Almost 80% of the Bauxite IV Survey mines are ISO 14001 certified for environmental management. Mining leases and concessions are linked with rehabilitation conditions and the obligation to comply with government regulations. Many operations make rehabilitation the responsibility of individual production staff by including rehabilitation targets in their performance appraisals. All operations have clearly defined rehabilitation objectives, fully integrated rehabilitation programmes, and written rehabilitation procedures.

The rehabilitation objectives can be summarized as follows: ”The bauxite mining operations aim to restore pre-mining environment and the respective conditions; this can be a self-sustaining ecosystem consisting of native flora and fauna or any other land-use to the benefit of the local community”.

Bauxite mines are engaging with local communities and working to ensure that the benefits of mining are shared locally, regionally and globally with present and future generations. Mining operations support the maintenance and development of local communities through employment, infrastructure, training & social programmes and compensatory packages.