Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services

Since 2021, the Company has been strengthening this structure with the creation of the Thematic Group for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, linked to the ESG Committee. In 2022, CSN reinforced its commitment by publicly expressing its intention to adopt the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which culminated in 2024 with its inclusion on the list of companies committed to the early adoption of this framework.

We operate with a structured management approach to biodiversity, with specific commitments, using the BIO biodiversity index to diagnose and monitor the maturity of the Company’s preservation areas, engagement actions, and efforts aimed at reducing biodiversity loss.

The BIO consists of a set of indicators that culminate in an index and guide biodiversity monitoring and the preparation of regular follow-up reports. Its development is based on the Biodiversity Indicator and Reporting System (BIRS) methodology from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The application of the index allows for the comparison of relevant aspects of biodiversity under the same metrics, making it possible to identify and rank operations with more or less preserved biodiversity areas.

Benefits of the BIO (Biodiversity Index):

Improvement in measuring progress towards preserving the existing biodiversity condition;
Standardization of numerical expression for biodiversity suitability;
Historical comparison of operational unit results;
Consolidation of results at national, regional, and global levels;
Establishment of goals and metrics for defining no net loss and net gain.

The guidelines and parameters for our biodiversity management are established in the Biodiversity Policy, which is applicable to all businesses within the CSN Group. Click here to access the policy.

The Company assesses the impacts of its operations on ecosystem services, considering aspects such as air quality, climate regulation, water availability, and erosion control. We maintain a public commitment to the principle of no net loss of biodiversity and, whenever possible, strive to achieve a net gain, aligning with the best practices of environmental sustainability.

In the context of deforestation, we adopt a no net deforestation approach. This means that any removal of native vegetation is compensated by equivalent or superior reforestation or ecological restoration actions, carried out in the same biome within two years, to ensure there is no net loss of forest cover. This commitment applies to the Company’s own operations and also guides the selection and engagement criteria for our suppliers and partners, with environmental requirements incorporated into our contracting and socio-environmental due diligence processes.

Progress in implementing this commitment is monitored through the “impacted area versus protected area” indicator, which sets as a minimum guideline the compensation of at least double the suppressed area for each new project implemented. Additionally, we use georeferencing and remote sensing systems to monitor areas of suppression and regeneration, ensuring the traceability and transparency of our results.

Biodiversity impact management programmes

Flora rescue;
Phenological monitoring;
Seed collection;
Fauna deterrence and rescue;
Environmental compensation;
Revegetation of exposed soil;
Fauna and flora monitoring;
Prevention of forest fires;
Implementation of drainage projects;
Implementation of sediment containment devices;
Road signage to prevent wildlife accidents;
Environmental education programs.

Engagement and efforts to reduce biodiversity loss:

Biodiversity issues are assessed throughout the entire lifecycle of CSN’s assets. Negative impacts from direct interventions on habitats (vegetation removal) are managed through the licensing process, starting with the completion of environmental studies. In these studies, significant negative impacts are addressed according to a mitigation hierarchy, initially seeking to avoid, then to minimize, and, when necessary, to compensate.

Similarly, aspects related to the factors of biodiversity loss (noise, air, water, or soil pollution) are also properly controlled through the licensing process (license conditions), and are periodically and duly monitored by the competent authorities. It is also worth noting that the majority of our operations hold ISO 14001 environmental certification.

Recovery areas (and compensations) and preserved areas are monitored for fauna, flora, and their recovery status. The monitoring varies according to the requirements of the licensing environmental agency in each location, as reflected in the license conditions of the respective operational units.

Additionally, as part of the environmental licensing process, a management plan for the RPPN Jurema (Private Natural Heritage Reserve), as well as a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and a Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (BMEP), have been developed. These plans are verified by the licensing environmental agency and are essential for monitoring the state of biodiversity conservation.

To improve the effectiveness of our actions and reduce biodiversity loss, the CSN Group employs a series of partnerships and efforts with governments, regulatory bodies, and local organizations.

Among the efforts and partnerships with governments and regulatory bodies, we can highlight the following:

In 2024, CSN reached a milestone in the reforestation project of the Cicuta Forest in Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, with over 85,000 native seedlings planted across 41.1 hectares of the Cicuta ARIE (Area of Relevant Ecological Interest) and its buffer zone.

This initiative, in partnership with ICMBio, strengthens our commitment to sustainability and biodiversity preservation. The goal is to expand ecological connectivity, benefiting endangered species such as the macaco-bugio, and solidifying the area as a reference in conservation in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Other relevant efforts include, for example, a partnership with the Federal University of the São Francisco Valley (UNIVASF), established in 2023 in the logistics sector. The university is responsible for the custody of biological material collected during vegetation suppression actions, which contributes to compliance with Normative Instruction No. 13/2013. In the cement sector, notable partnerships include those with public institutions such as the State Forestry Institute (IEF), EMATER-MG, and the Minas Gerais Energy Company (CEMIG), especially in the context of the Barroso operational unit. In the mining sector, there are initiatives with museums and universities that assist in the diagnosis, collection, and identification of species. Such partnerships typically involve the donation of specimens for scientific research, helping to strengthen conservation and the development of knowledge about local biodiversity.

Refer to the Integrated Report to learn more about our actions: click here