Applying the mitigation hierarchy: Biodiversity actions across ASI-Certified Entities

28 October 2025

Aluminium production from upstream operations including bauxite mining, refining, smelting and energy supply through to downstream developments and including end-of-life recycling, has direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity and other environmental aspects.

The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) promotes the use of the biodiversity mitigation hierarchy in management systems, whereby companies need to demonstrate how they avoid, minimize, restore, and address material risks on nature, on Biodiversity and other Ecosystem Services. Principle 8 on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services directly addresses the conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in consultation with Affected Populations and Organisations. Indigenous peoples and Land connected Communities have intimate knowledge of their local environments including traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) for the management of their traditional lands.

Principle 8 includes measures for the protection and rehabilitation of natural habitats, the preservation of species diversity, and the recognition of the broader benefits that ecosystems provide. This principle is crucial for Entities to demonstrate how they are maintaining the ecological balance and overall sustainability of the environment impacted by their operations.

In this analysis, we looked at 50 Entities certified with ASI Performance Standard V3 that had Criterion 8.2 (Biodiversity Management) rated in Conformance (as of October 2025). We looked at specific actions identified in Biodiversity Action Plans developed and implemented by Entities. Some of these plans through consultation with Indigenous peoples and Land connected Communities included TEK. These plans are usually supported by clear, time-bound targets, developed based on site-specific nature-based risks and materiality assessments within each Entity’s area of influence. The implementation of the Biodiversity Management Plans and Biodiversity Action Plans can be categorised in the four main areas of focus:

Habitat monitoring, protection & restoration

Many Entities prioritise rehabilitation and protection of habitats both during and after operations. This includes rehabilitation of degraded or damaged sites, maintenance of infrastructure and integrating green spaces in industrial or urban settings. Actions often combine biodiversity benefits with community engagement.

Examples:

• Atlantic Forest Reforestation in Brazil: 40,000+ native trees and shrubs were planted in partnership with local municipalities and volunteers.
• Urban Forest recovery ‘Florest de Bolso’ in Brazil: An Entity created a mini urban forest to improve local microclimates and reconnect fragmented green spaces.
• Seagrass monitoring in United Arab Emirates: Underwater monitoring of seagrass health and associated marine life (rays, sharks).
• Fish habitat restoration in Canada: Salmon ladders and fish passages were installed at rivers and reservoirs to improve fish migration. Fish are released to reservoirs and rivers.
• Recultivating indigenous plant species in Egypt: Recultivation of Date Palms (Phoenix Dactylifera), Doum Palms (Hyphaene thebaica) and Athel Pines (Tamarix aphylla).
• Re-establishing corridors for wildlife: Allowing species to move more freely between habitats, through establishment of rehabilitated landscapes that provide habitat for key species.
• Mine rehabilitation programs: Rehabilitation in areas after bauxite mine extraction. Rehabilitation programs where before any forest vegetation is removed, fauna is rescued and rehabilitated through a Wild Animal Screening Centre (CETAS), while plant species and ecosystem services are assessed and documented in support of progressive mine rehabilitation that include criteria for sustainable mine closure outcomes.
• Ecosystem monitoring: Long-term ecosystem monitoring using indicator species such as certain flowering species, lichens, mosses, mussels and grazing animals. Monitoring to understand and mitigate impact in support of no net loss principles.

Species protection & management

Species-focused programs address both threatened native species and the control of invasive species, landscape approaches are sometimes adopted with other stakeholders including governments and environmental NGOs.

Examples:

• Hawksbill Turtle Protection in United Arab Emirates: Daily monitoring of turtle nesting beaches, hatching and conducting beach cleanups. All done in collaboration with turtle rehabilitation centres.
• Elephant corridors in India: Partnership with the government’s Forest Department to reduce conflict between humans and wildlife, including capacity building for communities to ensure safe migration routes for animals.
• Preservation Oolichan stocks in Canada: Monitoring fish populations to preserve native fish stocks.
• West African chimpanzees: Establishment and long-term funding of the Moyen-Bafing national park in Guinea. This remote montane-savannah region contains almost 20% of the remaining population of this chimpanzee.
• Osprey nesting platforms in Europe: Providing safe spaces for nesting birds in industrial landscapes.
• Bee hives and insect hotels: Installation of insect hotels on Entities’ premises. Sponsorship of two bee colonies.
• Other protection actions: Building feeding stations for birds. Building bird collision prevention systems on plant premises.

Invasive species control

Invasive species control is crucial for biodiversity protection and may also include operational safety in and around operations. Companies conduct ongoing monitoring.

Examples:

• Yellow-Legged Gull control in Europe: Managing invasive bird population on roofs of the plants to reduce competition with native bird species through removal of nests, eggs and chicks.
• Removal of uña de gato (ice plant) in Spain: Restoration of coastal areas.
• Other activities: Site specific management strategies for controlling invasive species through measures such as weed control and feral animal controls through integrated land management practices.

Pollution controls with impacts on biodiversity

To address indirect biodiversity impacts, companies control levels of pollution to maintain healthy ecosystems.

Examples:

• Water Stewardship requirements in Principle 7 of the Performance Standard
  • Sediment control and monitoring systems: Systems at bauxite mine sites to ensure sediments are retained on site and do not enter water ways.
  • Water replenishment in rivers in Brazil: Collaboration with São Paulo Water Fund and Nature Conservancy to support watershed health and downstream river biodiversity.
• Fluoride and air monitoring programs: Detection of atmospheric deposition and its impacts on vegetation.
• Light pollution and Insect-friendly outdoor lights: Reduction of disturbance to night insect species.

Long-term commitment and collaboration for lasting biodiversity impact

Audited actions enable companies to demonstrate how they implement a wide range of actions to protect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, starting with rehabilitation and habitat protection, targeted species protection programmes and measures to reduce pollution and control alien species that create long term protection of Nature. Community and stakeholder engagement is increasingly important as it raises awareness, includes local knowledge and increases impacts far beyond an Entity’s operations. While monitoring and research supports the integration of traditional ecological knowledge, the use of indicator species whilst monitoring and evaluating data supports informed actions that are guided by evidence. The ASI Standards include a framework for the aluminium value chain to mitigate impacts on nature and provide for collaborative multi-stakeholder approaches in support of no net loss whilst supporting targeted initiatives at site level that address specific projects in support of Biodiversity or Ecosystem Services protection.

Dig deeper

Find out what ASI Members are doing related to biodiversity restoration in the following stories:

If you would like to share a similar story with the ASI Secretariat, please reach out to Chinelo Etiaba, COO and Membership Director.

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