The use of land for mining may compete with other uses. In many regions of the world, indigenous people have owned and occupied lands for many generations. Under these circumstances it is appropriate, and indeed frequently required under statute, that Rio Tinto negotiates a mining access agreement directly with the indigenous landowners.

These agreements recognise the rights and interests of indigenous landowners and seek an equitable distribution of benefits between Rio Tinto, indigenous peoples and government. Because the extraction of minerals involves access to land and disturbance of the environment, it contributes to changes to habitats that affect the survival and distribution of plants and animals.

Rio Tinto businesses have an awareness of the biological diversity of the land they occupy and of its importance. Our overall objective is to ensure consideration of biodiversity in management and decision making processes by:

• undertaking rigorous biodiversity assessments of land we own, manage or lease;
• reducing adverse biodiversity impacts by project design and the application of high management standards;
• implementing conservation measures in post mining land use plans; and
• investigating options to offset any unavoidable adverse effects in project areas by conservation actions elsewhere.

We are working towards our goals by:

• Developing and implementing a biodiversity strategy with the help of external stakeholders.
• Building strategic partnerships with conservation and scientific organisations.
• Contributing to the wider debate in society on biodiversity aspects of sustainable development.
• Building on the biodiversity information survey conducted in 2001 with a business case for better management of issues.
• Conducting programmes that promote biodiversity conservation.
• Understanding the value of land and managing land we use.
• Protecting cultural heritage sites.