The SMI nursery: Learning about biodiversity

MANILA, Philippines –  To Sagittarius Mines Inc (SMI) the stewardship of the environment is serious business. SMI is the mining firm that holds the right to operate the Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato and is acknowledged as the biggest single foreign investment in the Philippines today.

Even in its pre-operation stage, SMI has poured a lot of funds to study and protect biodiversity in this South Cotabato area. It is now in the process of implementing its massive reforestation and mine-rehabilitation plan in Tampakan and surrounding areas. SMI communications manager John Arnaldo says the company “is committed to sustainable development and recognizes its role as a steward of the environment. We work closely with the local government units and communities to develop an integrated biodiversity and reforestation management plan that will address issues relating to land clearing, soil erosion, landslides and siltation of surrounding waterways.”

In keeping with its commitment to sustainable development, SMI is doing a variety of corporate social responsibility projects in nine barangays, nine tribal communities, four municipalities, four provinces and two regions. 

One of its more interesting projects is its nursery in Barangay Liberty in Tampakan. Millions of seedlings are raised and nurtured in this nursery and families, schools and individuals can just request for seedlings and they are given out for free to encourage people to plant trees. 

Schools and civic organizations usually bring children for a field trip to the SMI nursery as it has a butterfly farm and a vermiculture farm and students learn much about biodiversity and the environment.

Over the past three years, SMI’s strong social environmental culture has been recognized as an industry benchmark by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA), winning several awards including the “Best Mining Forest Program-Exploration Category in 2008, Runner Up in the Mining Forest Program-Exploration Category in 2007, and Best Mining Forest Program-Exploration Category in 2006.

The University of Queensland and its local counterpart, Visayas State University are now working on a robust forest rehabilitation and management program.

SMI is committed to advancing the Tampakan project in line with leading environmental and industry best practices and in partnership with our stakeholders. SMI is currently conducting a $74-million feasibility and environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the Tampakan copper-gold project. These specialist activities will include studies in key areas such as soil and land use, ground and surface water, terrestrial and fresh water biology, site rehabilitation, public health, and social and economic impacts.

The Tampakan project is one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits in South East Asia and has the potential to significantly enhance the economic and social development of the Philippines and Mindanao, and to significantly improve the quality of life of communities in the region.