Key Environmental Initiatives

Centre for the Study of Wetlands
In line with its commitment to sustainable development and care for the environment, Collahuasi promoted the creation of the first Centre for the Study of Wetlands, which opened in Pica in November 2008. The Centre’s purpose is to carry out scientific research on wetlands and their biodiversity, generating new knowledge and systemising existing information as well as defining and co-ordinating public policies for wetland management and sustainable use. Collahuasi has undertaken to finance its activities for a period of five years and the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands is represented on its board of directors. In 2004, this project was awarded a Bicentenary Seal as part of celebration of the 200th anniversary of Chile’s independence in 2010. This award recognised the project’s contribution to the creation and promotion of the country’s natural heritage.  

Protection of biodiversity in the Huasco Salt Flat
The Huasco Salt Flat, with its biodiversity and potential for eco-tourism, is not only one of the most important salt flats in the Tarapacá Region but also one of Chile’s most important wetlands. According to the United National Development Programme (UNDP), it is located on a key migration route for birds which use it as a crucial resting and nesting place. The UNDP also identifies it as one of the few salts flats in Chile where all the country’s three species of flamingos (Andean, James and Chilean) nest and it is, moreover, populated by rheas, condors and vicuñas. Collahuasi does not extract water from this salt flat and, through its efforts, seeks to promote both the conservation of its biodiversity and its sustainable development.

Puerto Patache Plantation
This forest plantation in the desert coastal area of the Tarapacá Region consists of 23 hectares of tree species that include the Acacia Saligna, Cupressus, Tamarix Aphylla, Schinus Molle, Eucalyptus Camadulensis and Myoporum sp. Serving as a carbon sink, it is irrigated with previously-treated residues of the water used for the transport of copper concentrate from the Ujina sector to the company's port facilities in Puerto Patache. The objective of this vegetation system is to disperse excess water from Puerto Patache’s industrial installations through the evaporation it generates.

Transplant of wetland in the Chiclla Ravine
One of the voluntary commitments entered into by Collahuasi under its 1995 Environmental Impact Study was that, since the Rosario mine’s sterile dump deposits would cover the Capella wetland, it would transplant 2.1 hectares of this wetland to the Chiclla Ravine, an area impacted by artisan gold mining. The company continues to maintain irrigation canals and to irrigate the transplanted areas and will do so until they are fully established. An increase in the area’s biodiversity has also been observed with the presence of vizcachas, vicuñas and bird species that include the perdicita cordillerana, churrete de la puna and aguilucho. 

Queñoa reforestation in Irruputuncu
This project involves the reforestation of 149.2 hectares of queñoa trees, completed in 2008, in the vicinity of the Irruputuncu Volcano. The initiative is now focusing on follow-up and the replacement of plants that have died as well as on new studies to identify the requirements of the young trees and new cultivation and management techniques to ensure the survival of the species.

Alto Hospicio Environmental Improvement 
In April 2009, Collahuasi and Chile’s National Forestry Service (CONAF) launched the Alto Hospicio Environmental Improvement Project. This seeks to foster citizen participation in environmental education and care for the environment by working directly with the district’s neighbourhood associations, other organisations and institutions. Other activities that will take place as part of the project include clean-up operations, the planting of trees, the improvement and maintenance of green areas, training and the celebration of key environmental dates. Collahuasi has undertaken to finance these initiatives for a period of three years.

Plastic bottle recycling
In June 2009, Collahuasi launched a plan to strengthen its Plastic Bottle Recycling Programme, which has been in place since 2007 and includes all the company’s contractors. Its aim is to reduce the amount of waste generated as a result of the bottled water that the company provides for all its personnel. The empty bottles are collected from the site by an external company for compacting in Pozo Almonte. They are then taken to Santiago where they are converted into chips which are sold in the Asian market for use in making new products.   Thanks to this programme, 138,200 bottles were recycled in 2009 and the number is expected to double in 2010.