Tag: Ecological conservation

News

Ecological conservation efforts rewarded with better environment

Jun 21, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments #China, #DONGYING, #Ecological conservation, #Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, #Yellow River Estuary, #Yellow River Estuary National Park

DONGYING, China, June 21, 2024  — Dongying in East China’s Shandong province has been making significant strides in implementing the national strategy for the protection of the Yellow River in recent years, focusing on advancing ecological conservation and promoting green, low-carbon and high-quality development.

Its efforts have resulted in a remarkable improvement in the quality of the ecological environment, with steady progress made in the construction of an ecological civilization and the continuous enhancement of the environmental governance system.

The heart of these efforts lies in the building of the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, where a diverse array of bird species has found sanctuary. Thanks to the comprehensive ecological restoration network established around the reserve, the bird population has doubled since the reserve’s inception, showcasing the success of conservation and restoration efforts.

With the creation of the Yellow River Estuary National Park, the city has pioneered wetland restoration models specific to the Yellow River Estuary. Through 17 wetland restoration projects, the reserve has replenished 469 million cubic meters of water, connected over 241 kilometers of water systems, and restored 282,000 mu (18,800 hectares) of freshwater wetlands, among other achievements.

What were once barren or saline-alkali lands have been transformed into lush wetlands teeming with biodiversity, creating a paradise for birds. A total of 373 bird species have been identified in the reserve.

Dongying has also made targeted efforts to combat severe pollution by enhancing the coordinated control of PM2.5 and ozone. By emphasizing targeted and scientific atmospheric governance, the city has seen stable improvement in key environmental indicators.

To drive ecological conservation, the city has been developing a green, low-carbon economy. It has accelerated the implementation of the “dual carbon” strategy of peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, with 20 key emission units in the power generation sector participating in national carbon emission trading.

News

World Environment Day: Vedanta Aluminium partners with IORA towards ecological conservation

Jun 5, 2024 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments #Ecological conservation, #India’s largest producer of aluminium, #IORA Ecological Solutions, #Mr. John Slaven, #Mr. Swapan Mehra, #NBS, #New Delhi World Environment Day, #Vedanta Aluminium, #Vedanta Aluminium partners with IORA

New Delhi, 5th June 2024: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IORA Ecological Solutions, a leading environmental advisory firm in India. As part of the partnership, Vedanta Aluminium will collaborate with IORA to implement nature-based solutions (NBS) towards the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources in the vicinity of its operations, and achieving climate resilience at the landscape level. Natural resource management at the landscape level includes conserving natural resources like water, soil, flora and fauna across a large area.

World Environment Day - Vedanta Aluminium partners with IORA towards ecological conservation

Founded in 2009, IORA provides technical expertise in natural resource conservation, carbon forestry, climate change mitigation and adaptation. Under the partnership, it will support Vedanta Aluminium in the development and implementation of projects focused on the landscape-level management of local biodiversity and ecosystems, including identifying, designing, and managing technology-led climate mitigation projects aligned with global sustainability efforts and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Vedanta Aluminium will also implement nature-based climate offset and biodiversity management projects in collaboration with the neighbouring communities and other interested stakeholders.

These initiatives will be rolled out in the vicinity of the company’s operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, enabling it to expand on-ground engagement with local communities and other stakeholders through organized forums, enhancing awareness, capacity building programs, and implement grassroots biodiversity and nature conservation practices. Collectively, these actions are geared towards actively identifying and integrating viable nature-positive actions into every aspect of Vedanta Aluminium’s operations.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we are integrating sustainability into every aspect of our decision-making process, measuring success by the degree of positive socio-economic changes and environmental stewardship we achieve through our operations. As part of this effort, we are also focusing on enhancing resource efficiencies, circular economy practices, and inclusive community partnerships for a sustainable future, and are committed to reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.”

Adding his views, Mr. Swapan Mehra, CEO, IORA Ecological Solutions said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Vedanta Aluminium towards deploying comprehensive environmental and ecological solutions in the vicinity of its operations. As an industry leader, Vedanta’s efforts in this regard will surely inspire its peers in the global business landscape to shore up their own plans as well, spurring a transformative impact across the entire industry.”

Vedanta Aluminium’s operations encompass the world’s largest aluminium plant in Jharsuguda and a world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Odisha, in addition to mining operations within the state. It also includes BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium producer based in Korba, Chhattisgarh. On the occasion of World Environmental Day, the company undertook multiple knowledge-building and engagement efforts among its teams and communities. These included expert-led sessions and documentary screening on topics such as the impact of desertification, drought resilience and aligning business-biodiversity needs.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.