Newmont Mining Corporation

The Boddington project lies within the world's only jarrah forest, a unique and biodiverse environment that provides a critical habitat for two endangered black cockatoo species (Carnaby's Cockatoo and Baudin's Cockatoo), and a threatened subspecies, the Forest Red Tailed Black Cockatoo.

Boddington is collaborating with Murdoch University, Birds Australia, the WA Museum and the Department of Conservation on a two-year study of the habitat of the cockatoos in the hope of slowing the decline in their populations. Together we are also working to identify the potential effects of mining on the habitat of these iconic birds, and to achieve positive conservation outcomes through habitat restoration and enhancement.

The birds can live for up to 70 years, but researchers are worried about the lack of young birds. Nesting takes place only in those years when there is sufficient food, generally when marri trees are fruiting heavily.

Boddington Gold environmental staff brought the forest into the classroom for more than 400 students from schools in Boddington, Dwellingup and Wandering to celebrate the second annual World Environment Day (WED). Key topics for discussion on the day were climate change and biodiversity. Boddington's Environmental Manager Tom Muth and Deputy Project Director Mike Hubbard told students their generation had the ability to "really make the difference on climate change."

"It's important to give our students a message of hope," Muth said. "Climate change can seem pretty scary to a young person. They need to know there's something that each of them can do about it."

These sentiments were echoed by students who presented on the environmental and recycling programs at their schools. Dr Hugh Finn, from Murdoch University, asked students to think about how their environment might change if climate change continued.

"Being from an area that is part forest and part farmland, it's easy for students to understand how things like drought and forest fires affect the environment," he said. "From there, it's just a matter of getting them to see how their own actions can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they emit."

The Boddington Gold Community Environment Committee was established in 2006 as part of Newmont's commitment to keeping the community informed on key environmental matters related to the Boddington. Committee members have a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds.

Members engage with stakeholders on local issues, develop partnership arrangements with other key players and work with Newmont's environmental staff and Traditional Owners on developing and implementing a closure and future land use plan for the site. The committee also identifies and works on key environmental projects to enhance the local community.

In 2008, the Community Environment Committee focused World Environment Day activities on vulnerable and endangered fauna, including the Carnaby's Black Cockatoos. In 2009, Boddington continued the success of World Environment Day and identified two new projects to support--the Hotham River Boardwalk development and improving information and rest areas along the Bibbulmun Track.