EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

As BHP's Yandi iron ore mine in the Pilbara nears its end, an award-winning project is pioneering the future of mining land rehabilitation.

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The site is one of the most significant in BHP's history and, in 2017, it became the second WA-based iron ore mine to produce one billion tonnes in its lifetime.

The land, located 90km north-west of Newman, is now beginning progressive closure, and doing so in a manner that has been applauded by the wider industry.

The Yandi Seed Production Area (SPA) recently took out the Excellence in Environmental Management and Sustainability category at the Australian Mining Prospects Awards for tackling one of the biggest challenges in mine restoration: a widespread scarcity of native seeds, made worse by a changing climate.

Thousands of hectares of land require revegetation each year. While native seeds have traditionally been sourced from the wild, innovative and sustainable approaches are now emerging to support biodiversity and ensure long-term health, allowing restoration of landscapes without compromising existing ecosystems.