For the fourth consecutive year this year, the Anglo American team and its strategic partners went back out into the field around the Quellaveco mine to plant new queñua seedlings as part of an ambitious plan to create a 100-hectare protection zone for this species native to the region.
"Quellaveco leaves a green footprint", Anglo American's initiative to establish a queñua forest in Moquegua, was awarded the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) certification in December last year for its efforts in protecting and conserving this species. We have also been recognised with the WHC 2024 award in the Reforestation Project category for this initiative. For more than 30 years, WHC has been promoting and certifying the conservation of natural habitats and land management through partnerships and education.
To date, 16,000 queñuas have been planted in the Quellaveco area, equivalent to 38 hectares. The queñua is a shrub typical of highland climates with very important characteristics: it prevents soil erosion and boosts ecosystemic functions as it has the capacity to store water, and above all it provides shelter and food for various birds and small mammals. However, today it is in a vulnerable state, so its protection is key for the environment and ecosystem.
“With this initiative, we are connecting other efforts we are making at Quellaveco to generate a positive environmental impact on our operation and the environment. We recycle organic waste from the operations as compost, work with the local academy and professionals to research and share learnings, and even plant the trees in campaigns with our workers and the community to encourage a culture of environmental protection," said Miguel Morales, Anglo American's Environmental Affairs Manager during the recent queñuas planting day.
Quellaveco's queñuas forest is part of Anglo American's Sustainable Mining Plan, which seeks to generate a net positive impact on biodiversity.
A smart greenhouse in the digital mine
More than 38 000 queñua seedlings are being grown in a modern, smart greenhouse implemented by Anglo American. Like a digital mine, the greenhouse has autonomous components to optimise the care of this species, preserving its local genetics and predisposition to the area's climate. This innovative facility uses technology to control climate conditions, irrigation frequency and light – it enables automated heating, cooling and irrigation processes, thanks to information collected by sensors and weather stations. It can also control the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the seedlings by activating a series of side and roof curtains. With this technology, the greenhouse has the capacity to produce 300,000 seedlings of different species per year – and will help us achieve our goal of creating a forest with 100 hectares of queñuas.
“The technology implemented in the automated greenhouse allows us to provide the most suitable conditions for the strengthening of the seedlings prior to their planting, generating higher success rates in the field. Being the first of its kind for native species in South America to grow seedlings this way, we are also able to share knowledge and technology transfer with civil society and communities.” says Enrique Cachicatari, Biodiversity Supervisor at Anglo American.
But that’s not all. Applying the concept of circular economy, Quellaveco has created a composting plant that processes 250 tonnes of organic waste generated in the camp kitchens and canteens every month. Wood, paper, and sludge are added to this waste, resulting in an average of 22 tonnes of high-quality compost per month. The research and implementation of this initiative was carried out by professionals from Moquegua and has allowed us to strengthen our planting processes for various species, as well as to deliver around 500 tonnes to various communities, enhancing their agricultural processes.
This fertiliser or compost obtained is used in the propagation of species in the smart greenhouse and to enrich the soil where revegetation and afforestation work is carried out. Once transplanted in the field, these seedlings are monitored by Quellaveco specialists through a modern system that uses drones and satellite images.
The Quellaveco team has focused on vulnerable species in the area such as queñua, lloque, tola, rodamonte, some varieties of cactus, among others, with the aim of generating a positive impact on biodiversity. The result is a model of sustainable management of flora, which could be replicated throughout the country, as it follows a methodology where resources are recycled and used.