Features
Rio Tinto has committed to making a net positive impact on biodiversity at its operating sites around the world.
We recognise the importance of conserving and responsibly managing biological diversity, both as an issue for our business and society. In the forested land that surrounds the Rio Tinto operated Anglesey Aluminium in the UK, we have been involved in a project to reintroduce the red squirrel, one of the UK's most endangered species. The forests on Anglesey, including the one close to Anglesey Aluminium, are now home to the second largest population of red squirrels in Wales.
The red squirrel is Britain's only naturally occurring squirrel and used to live in abundance throughout the woodland areas up and down the country. Declining woodland and the introduction of the grey squirrel has threatened its existence.
The Anglesey Aluminium reserve is ideal for red squirrels
The grey squirrel carries the parapox virus, harmless to its own kind but deadly to the red. An infected red dies within a week of contracting the virus. Once at large in a locality, the alien grey can completely replace a population of red squirrels in 15 to 20 years. The grey is also highly destructive to certain tree species, as it is much larger and therefore eats more than the red. The grey squirrel was introduced to Britain from North America in the nineteenth century.
Anglesey Aluminium owns 342 hectares of land, of which 255 hectares is coastal reserve and farmland. Around half of that is an old landfill site, which was replanted with pine trees in the early 1980s. It is pretty wild, free of greys, and highly suitable for reds.
By the late 1990s, it was estimated the population of adult reds on Anglesey had dropped to around 40, and an Environment Agency initiative set out to redress the balance. Over five years, 6,000 grey squirrels were culled and pairs of reds were gradually introduced into the island's forested areas.
We introduced reds squirrels to our reserve in large pens, where they acclimatised for two months before being released. We strategically placed nesting boxes and feed hoppers around the wood so that we can monitor the squirrels' progress. We also tagged two of the males and there continue to be sightings. Red squirrel spotting in the woods is a favourite with local school children.
The Isle of Anglesey, off the north west coast of Wales, is roughly 30 by 25 km, and bridged to the mainland at only two points. With the grey squirrel eradicated from the island, hopes are that it will continue to be kept at bay.