Brazilian mining company Vale announced that it has produced more than 57,000 seedlings of native species for reforestation in Mozambique, as part of the project to implement a “green curtain” on the wall that separates the mining area from the communities.
In a statement, Vale claims the action is the result of its Environmental Management Plan, which has already allowed the reforestation of more than 260 hectares in the Moatize mine, which “minimized the emission of dust over the inhabited areas around the exploration areas”.
“This initiative also allowed the replacement of forest species in the context of maintaining the diversity of flora and replacing the source of wildlife and sustaining the surrounding populations that are highly dependent on flora,” said the company.
According to the document, about 650 kilograms of seeds from 30 species of plants were collected during the previous year.
In 2020, between January and December, the mining company donated about 4,500 species of seedlings of fruit and shade trees in the surroundings of communities in the Moatize district.
Also read: Mitsui to sell stake in Mozambique coal mine, logistics corridor to Vale
Vale is the main coal mining company in Mozambique, which in turn is the country’s main export product, especially to Asia.
In January, Vale announced its intention to sell its coal mining in the country, citing the objective of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and reducing some of its main sources of pollution by 2030.
The company has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese partner Mitsui, “allowing both parties to structure Mitsui’s exit from the Moatize coal mine and the Nacala Logistics Corridor (NLC) as a first step towards Vale’s divestment in the coal business.”
