From Nature; To Nature

Source: Natural Diamond Council (NDC)

2022-02-09

Natural diamond industry on top of mining diamonds, also work diligently on environmental protection and unwavering sustainability projects.

More than 2,600 square kilometers of nature around the world are being protected by NDC member companies, including ALROSA Group, De Beers Group, Petra Diamond, and Lucara Diamond, etc.

In fact, before each natural diamond mine is mined, NDC members conduct long-term research and planning with the local government and community to ensure that every step meets their strict requirements and is ecologically sustainable.

Taking De Beers Group as an example, they announced a mission called "Building Forever" in 2020, which includes a series of sustainability commitment in four aspects: leading the industry's ethical practices, building community prosperity, protecting the natural environment, and achieving equal opportunities. They work in-depth with the communities of natural diamond mines to create lasting benefits for the local area. At the same time, they insist that the protection of the environment and the community will be the top priority in their work, for a long lasting positive impact.

"We have to do more to protect the environment," said Ursula Witbooi, environmental manager at Namdeb Holdings, a joint venture between De Beers and the Republic of Namibia.

Witbooi (維特布依) and his team brought together miners, environmentalists, conservationists, scientists, and young students from various academic research institutions. They are responsible for researching the environment around the mine and figuring out when and how to bring it back to life.

Wittebouyi said that the best reward after hard work is the vitality in front of you. "I still remember when I first stood on the beach near the Pocket Beats mine, wondering if this beautiful coastline would hold up; but looking back at this place after we've done every part of our lives, it’s not even possible to discover that there was once a natural diamond mine nearby."

10,000 kilometers away from the Republic of Namibia, where Viterbouyi is located, De Beers Group is also doing the same work in the icy world of Canada - only here is a completely different climate and has its own unique environmental requirements.

The Attawapiskat First Nation community in northern Ontario has a closed Victor mine, and while it was operating, one-fifth of employees are locals and more than $680 million was spent on goods and services provided by local residents and businesses.

Further to protect their interests, De Beers Group has done a lot of re-closure planning, including helping employees transition into new roles, holding job-seeking skills workshops and career fairs, and providing departing employees with far more than Statutory standard severance pay. By the time the Victor Natural Diamond Mine closed, most employees had found new jobs.

From 2014 until the mine closing, De Beers Group has carried out planting plans and environmental protection education for local youth every year. The work went so well that by the time the mine closed, more than a third of the land had been restored. To date, De Beers has planted 1.2 million native trees and vegetation there, carefully selected to ensure they are adapted to Canada's climate and withstand long, cold winters.

In fact, similar cooperation is taking place all over the world. Also in Canada, the Arctic Canadian Diamond Company has been working with the local Inuit to protect endangered caribou; and at the Diavik natural diamond mine in Canada's Northwest Province, Rio Tino has pioneered the use of renewable wind turbines to power the mining area, which intended to be donated to the local community after the mine closes. In Russia, more than 85% of the energy of Alrosa Group comes from hydropower; while in South Africa and Tanzhan in Nia, mine operator Petra Diamonds has listed more than half of its land as a nature reserve.

When you buy a natural diamond, the first thing that comes to your mind may be its legendary history of billions of years; but don’t forget, through the efforts and research of so many people, the natural diamond industry is making every diamond delivered to you, can also provide a positive future for local communities and the natural environment.