Tata Steel observes Biological Diversity Day 2022

Jamshedpur, May 22, 2022: Tata Steel observed the International Day of Biological Diversity today by organising plantation drive at Kadma Biodiversity Park spread over about 15-acres in the heart of the industrial town.

The function was attended by Chakanya Chaudhary, Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel as Chief Guest along with his spouse. Other dignitaries present were D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Raw Materials, Tata Steel and Chairman of the Steering Committee of Centre for Biodiversity Excellence, Uttam Singh, Vice President, Iron Making, Tata Steel who were also accompanied with their spouse. Other officials from Corporate Services Division were also present on the occasion.

A total number of 2000 saplings are being planned to be planted in next one week out of which 60% are fruit saplings. A booklet on the survey conducted on the park was also released during a short programme.

Sustainability is an integral part of the business process for Tata Steel. It is embedded in the DNA of organisation, driven by the Company’s leadership, with an organization-wide governance structure built around it. Tata Steel has identified 20 important Sustainability issues through a materiality exercise. Of the 20 material issues, Biodiversity is one of the topics included for targeted action since mining happens in the ecologically-sensitive areas and is one of the major causes of habitat loss and species extinction.

The organization has created a synergistic model for biodiversity restoration projects such as CRM Bara and Jugsalai Muck Dump among others where it also addresses the climate change mitigation requirements by limiting the air and water pollution.

Stakeholder consultation and local community involvement through awareness sessions as well as active participation has proven to be effective tools in the biodiversity conservation initiatives taken up by the organization. While designing and implementing the initiatives it was ensured that along with having beneficial environmental implications for the life on land, for the climate, it will also have socio-economic value. For example, the Dalma View Point provides a good picnic spot for the local community, the Noamundi mine restoration has provided livelihood options for the communities dependent on the forest produce, Tata Zoo generates revenue through entry tickets and so on.

The employees are actively involved through nature clubs, sustainability champion initiatives and other regular engagement activities to develop sensitivities and encourage integration of ecological and climate risk in the strategic decision making for core business processes.

Tata Steel has consciously invested in biodiversity conservation and is actively working with several organisations to enhance its performance in biodiversity conservation and significantly reducing its impact on ecosystem and biodiversity. Being a business leader in steel making, mining, and manufacturing, the Company is going beyond the regulatory regimes and setting high standards for itself on the social and environmental matters.