Biodiversity issues are assessed throughout the lifecycle of CSN assets.

Negative impacts resulting from direct interventions on habitats (such as vegetation suppression) are managed through the environmental licensing process, starting with environmental studies in which significant negative impacts are addressed according to the mitigation hierarchy—initially aiming to avoid, then minimize, and, when necessary, compensate.

Similarly, aspects related to factors contributing to biodiversity loss (such as noise, air, water, or soil pollution) are properly controlled through licensing conditions, being periodically and adequately monitored by the competent authorities. It is noteworthy that most of the Company’s operations are ISO 14001 certified.

Recovery (and compensation) areas and preserved areas are subject to monitoring of fauna, flora, and recovery status, in accordance with the requirements of the environmental licensing authority in each location. These requirements are reflected in the license conditions of the respective operational units.

In addition, as part of the environmental licensing process, the management plan for the Jurema Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), and the Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (BMEP) have been developed. These plans are reviewed by the environmental licensing authority and are essential for monitoring the conservation status of biodiversity.

To enhance the effectiveness of our actions and reduce biodiversity loss, CSN Group engages in a series of partnerships and efforts with governments, regulatory agencies, and local organizations. Among the highlighted efforts and partnerships are:

In 2024, CSN achieved a major milestone in the reforestation project of the Cicuta Forest, in Volta Redonda (RJ), with more than 85,000 native seedlings planted across 41.1 hectares of the ARIE Cicuta and its buffer zone. The initiative, carried out in partnership with ICMBio, reinforces CSN’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity conservation. The objective is to strengthen ecological connectivity and benefit endangered species, such as the howler monkey, consolidating the area as a conservation reference in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Other noteworthy efforts include, for instance, the partnership with the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), established in 2023, in the logistics sector. UNIVASF is responsible for storing biological material collected during vegetation suppression actions, which helps CSN comply with Normative Instruction No. 13/2013. In the cement sector, partnerships with public institutions such as the State Institute of Forests (IEF), the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of Minas Gerais (EMATER-MG), and the Minas Gerais Power Company (CEMIG) are particularly relevant in the context of the Barroso operational unit. In the mining sector, CSN maintains partnerships with museums and universities that work together during licensing stages involving species diagnosis, collection, and identification. These partnerships generally involve the donation of biological specimens for scientific research, contributing to the strengthening of biodiversity conservation and the development of knowledge about local ecosystems.