Biodiversity issues are assessed throughout the life cycle of CSN’s assets.
Negative impacts resulting from direct interventions on habitats (plant suppression) are managed through the licensing process, starting with environmental studies, in which significant negative impacts are addressed according to a mitigation hierarchy, initially seeking to avoid, then minimize and, where necessary, compensate.
Similarly, aspects related to biodiversity loss factors (noise, air, water or soil pollution) are also duly controlled through the licensing process (license conditions), and are periodically and duly monitored by the competent bodies. It should also be noted that most of our operations have ISO 14000 environmental certification.
Recovery areas (and compensations) and preserved areas are monitored for fauna, flora and recovery status, varying according to the requirements of the environmental licensing body in each location, and are reflected in the license conditions of the respective operating units.
In addition, as part of the environmental licensing process, the Jurema RPPN management plan has been drawn up, as well as the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and the Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (BMEP), which are verified by the licensing environmental agency and are essential for monitoring the state of biodiversity conservation.
Aiming to improve the effectiveness of our actions and reduce biodiversity loss, CSN Group employs a series of partnerships and efforts with governments, regulators and local organizations.
Among the efforts and partnerships with governments and regulators, we can highlight the following:
In the Steel sector, in 2023 the recovery process began in the area of Relevant Ecological Interest (ARIE) Floresta da Cicuta – RJ, in accordance with the terms of the cooperation agreement established with ICMBio. Also noteworthy are environmental education actions such as training workshops for employees and the community, as well as the donation of materials to the Tinguá Biological Reserve (REBIO) in Rio de Janeiro.
In the logistics sector, the partnership with the Federal University of the São Franscisco Valley (UNIVASF), stands out in 2023: UNIVASF is the trustee of the biological material collected from the suppression fronts inherent in the construction of the TLSA railroad. This partnership helps CSN comply with Normative Instruction 13 of 2013, inherent to the licensing process, and contributes to the university’s collection.
In the cement sector, there are partnerships with public institutions such as the Minas Gerais Forestry Institute (IEF), the Minas Gerais Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company (EMATER), the Minas Gerais Energy Company (CEMIG) and the city council, as well as local companies. These partnerships correspond especially to the context of the Barroso operational unit.
On the other hand, among the efforts and partnerships with local organizations, CSN Mineração has partnerships with museums and universities that work together in the licensing stages that involve diagnosing, collecting and identifying species.
The partnerships generally consist of receiving specimens of fauna in specific cases where there is a need for guidance on identification, for example. In return, they contribute to the collections of these institutions.