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Students and professors at Western University in London, Ontario were recently given an inside look at the comprehensive environmental management program at De Beers Victor Mine in the James Bay Lowlands in northern Ontario.

Brian Steinback, Senior Environmental Engineer with De Beers in Canada, spoke to a group of undergrads, masters and doctoral students at Western as part of their advanced studies of the science of biodiversity. Steinback, who has been involved in environmental research at Victor since before the mine was even constructed, said the vast amount of environmental program initiatives at Victor led to excellent discussion with the class.

“The ecosystem around Victor Mine is extremely complex,” says Steinback. “Sharing the work we do with the students helps them to understand how mining companies like De Beers take a proactive approach to protecting the environment by combining our knowledge with that of the local communities and world class experts in an ongoing collaboration through the life of the mine.”

De Beers’ extensive ecological monitoring and research in the James Bay Lowlands ecosystem and biodiversity has involved five universities to date, through our partnership with the Canadian Network for Aquatic Ecosystems Services (CNAES), and hosting a variety of research programs from various Province of Ontario ministries, which is building tremendous knowledge not previously captured in the part of the province, which can be applied to similar ecosystems in Canada and around the world.

In addition to achieving and maintaining the global ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard since early construction, De Beers also developed a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Victor Mine several years ago in support of De Beers’ worldwide environmental management and biodiversity policy. It also supports De Beers’ commitment to the Towards Sustainable Mining program of the Mining Association of Canada. The biodiversity plan at Victor Mine involves identifying potential threats to valued ecosystem components and developing ongoing monitoring programs and assessment tools.

Victor’s first biodiversity plan was approved in 2012. From songbirds to fish, to the impact of dust on air quality, habitat disturbance and many other areas, the plan identifies how the company is working to monitor the ecosystem and minimize impacts.