Irokinda Gold Mine Begins Biodiversity Monitoring
19 July 2022
Irokinda mine, part of the internationally diversified gold producer Nordgold, in line with Nordgold Biodiversity Statement, has appointed the Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (the «Institute») to conduct a programme of biodiversity monitoring in the Muysky district, in the Republic of Buryatia of the Russian Federation.
The programme will begin with a field survey in the region, followed by a desk-based analysis of field observation results. The report should be complete by the end of the year and will include:
- A detailed analysis of the current state of flora and fauna in the area;
- An assessment of the flora and fauna included in the Russian Federation (and regional) Red Book of engendered species;
- A report on the most vulnerable taxa of flora and fauna and their habitats in the area; and
- Identification of key biodiversity monitoring locations.
The report will also then set out a series of recommendations to reduce the environmental impact of the operations on local biodiversity.
It is anticipated that this project, along with information gathered during previous assessments, will lay the foundation for a New Biodiversity Management Plan of Irokinda mine.
The Irokinda biodiversity monitoring project is one of a number of initiatives launched by Nordgold in Russia. In February 2022, Nordgold’s flagship Gross mine completed an extensive biodiversity monitoring programme in the Gross Region in the southwest of the Russian Federation’s Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Based on the monitoring, the mine designed a new Biodiversity Management Plan that enhances environmental initiatives that we already carry out in the region. The results of biodiversity monitoring in the Gross Region also formed the basis for the educational website https://www.nordgold.com/biodiversity/ dedicated to biodiversity at the areas around the Company’s assets.
Nordgold has been a long standing sponsor of the Snow Leopard foundation which seeks to safeguard the population of these rare and beautiful predators in Russia. The Company mines in Russia have also been implementing programmes to restore aquatic bioresources and forestation programmes for many years.
About Irokinda
Irokinda is an underground gold mine located in the Muysky district of the Republic of Buryatia, Russian. The mine supports more than 800 jobs.
About Nordgold
Nordgold is an internationally diversified one million ounce gold producer with about 8,0800 people operating a portfolio of eight mines (in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Russia and Kazakhstan) and a number of development and exploration projects in West Africa, Eurasia and the Americas. Since its foundation in 2007, Nordgold has established a global reputation as a leading developer of tier one gold mining assets with a proven commitment to community engagement, sustainability, efficiency and operating in an environmentally responsible manner. Since 2013, Nordgold has successfully constructed three gold mines, including two in Burkina Faso (Bouly and Bissa) and most recently, the Gross mine in Russia.
Enquiries
Olga UlyevaHead of Corporate Communications