BHP Billiton Pledges A$6 mi to Bush Blitz II Project

 

Alongside partners the Australian Government and Earthwatch, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities today announced a A$6 million contribution to the second stage of the unique species discovery program, Bush Blitz.

BHP Billiton’s contribution will be matched by the Australian Government, allowing the program to run until 2017 with A$12 million in funding.

Known as Bush Blitz II, the program involves expedition teams conducting flora and fauna surveys across Australia which deepen the scientific knowledge of the country’s unique plants and animals.

Bush Blitz II will build on the success of the first stage of the program, which between 2010 and 2013 discovered more than 700 new species of plants and recorded more than 17,000 known species across 65 remote reserves across Australia.  BHP Billiton committed A$3.9 million to the first stage of the program, which brings its total investment in the program to almost A$10 million.

BHP Billiton President, HSE, Marketing and Technology, Mike Henry, thanked Earthwatch and the Australian Government for the opportunity to be involved in the program.

“BHP Billiton supports a range of initiatives around the world that make a positive contribution to the environment and benefit the broader community,” he said. “This unique partnership combines BHP Billiton’s commitments to biodiversity, environment and the communities in which operate. That’s why we’ve extended our partnership with Bush Blitz by providing funding for the second phase of the program.

“The partnership reflects BHP Billiton’s community strategy – engagement, inclusiveness and participation.  This is reflected in the passion and enthusiasm of our employees who volunteer on the expeditions, and then share their knowledge and insight with colleagues in the workplace.”

Mr Henry said that to date, 43 BHP Billiton employees have participated in seven expeditions.

“BHP Billiton employees act as research assistants in the field and support scientists with trapping species, collecting plant samples and processing specimens,” he said. “It is a highly regarded professional development opportunity for our people where they learn survey techniques on a wide variety of species and by the end of the expedition they have a broader understanding of Australia’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems.”

Mr Henry said support of the Bush Blitz program was consistent with BHP Billiton’s target to conserve areas of high biodiversity and ecosystem value of national or international conservation significance such as the Five Rivers Conservation Project, where a recent Bush Blitz took place.

“By participating in Bush Blitz II, our employees demonstrate our value of Sustainability and making a difference in helping to protect Australia’s environment and biodiversity,” he said. “We have also said that we will help to build the resilience of communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. By contributing to our understanding of biodiversity, the Bush Blitz program will help inform opportunities to incorporate climate change resilience considerations into conservation management and planning moving forward.”

BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities is a charity established by BHP Billiton as part of its community investment program.  Most projects supported by BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities are multi-year projects and they predominately focus on building capacity of individuals and institutions, so that after the project is completed, it will leave a lasting positive legacy.
 

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