<div class="bg_partners_and_news"></div>
Partnership with Rio Tinto (Ended September 2016)
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
In 2001, BirdLife International and Rio Tinto formed a global partnership to achieve mutually held goals of biodiversity conservation. In 2004, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Rio Tinto launched their corporate commitment to have a ‘Net Positive Impact (NPI)’ on biodiversity; a key goal for the Partnership is to deliver significant, measurable contributions towards this commitment. The partnership came to an end in September, 2016.
BirdLife’s scientific expertise and global biodiversity databases enable Rio Tinto to identify global conservation priorities and sites that present both risks and opportunities to Rio Tinto operations. Furthermore, through its Global Partnership and grassroots networks, BirdLife is well positioned to identify and develop local collaborative conservation initiatives between Rio Tinto business units and local partners.
The partnership achieves biodiversity conservation through several activities:
- Enabling realistic, measurable contributions to Rio Tinto’s corporate commitment to a Net Positive Impact (NPI) on biodiversity
- Implementation of collaborative conservation projects relevant to mining operations and to BirdLife Partners.
- Promotion of an interest in birds as a gateway to wider environmental awareness through annual birdwatch events
- Development and implementation of a group-wide biodiversity strategy among Rio Tinto business units.
- Global outreach to advance the debate on corporate responsibility through demonstration of the partnership’s achievements.
Partnership Outcomes
- Additional $2 million leveraged funding raised for conservation
- 5 IBAs designated in Australia, Madagascar, and the USA with a total area of over 90,000 Ha
- A number of Local Conservation Groups created
- Livelihoods created through Zululand Birding Route, increased average income of guides by 100 times
- 40,000 participants in 440 birdwatch events bringing together communities and business units
Partnership Projects (2001-2016)
10 Years of environmental education in Madagascar
Western Hemisphere Flyway Programme
East Asian - Australasian Flyway Programme
Vulture Safe Zone at Bunder, India
Annual Rio Tinto BirdWatch Event
Richards Bay Avitourism Project – the Zululand Birding Route (ZBR)
Kruger-to-Canyons Birding Route Avitourism Project
Protecting Damara Terns in Namibia
Bird Awareness Programme in Zimbabwe
Direct Payments for Conservation in Madagascar
The Madison Valley Important Bird Area Project
Lower San Pedro River and Queen Creek Project
The Audubon Wyoming Community Naturalist Program
Management of Lee Creek Natural Area
Lahontan Valley Wetlands IBA Outreach Program
Yampa Valley and Sagebrush Steppe Conservation Project
Bird and Biodiversity Exhibitions at Lac Saint Pierre Biosphere Reserve
Conserving Flamingos in the High Andes
Biodiversity Offsets in the Pantanal
Birdwatching Tourism at Kakadu and the Top End
Galba Gobi Project in Mongolia
Safeguarding Important Areas of Natural Habitat in Mongolia alongside Economic Development
Contact Details
For further information about the Rio Tinto-BirdLife International Partnership, contact:
Samir.Whitaker <at> birdlife.org - Programme Manager
The David Attenborough Building
Pembroke Street
Cambridge
CB2 3QZ
Tel: +44 (0)1223 747596
Back to Business Partnerships home