At Teck, we have set a goal to contribute to a nature positive future, and we are committed to working with local partners, communities and Indigenous Peoples to conserve ecologically and culturally significant lands. In 2023, we announced a $10-million donation to the Chilean Nature Fund (FNC) to support Chile’s Protected Marine Areas program and protection of a global biodiversity area.
The donation will support all Protected Marine Areas conservation initiatives, with a focus on the Juan Fernández Archipelago. The archipelago is an ecologically significant area with a high number of endemic species. It has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Funding will help the FNC and the community of Juan Fernández design and implement protection and conservation measures in the archipelago, including the protection of rare seabirds and unique flora and fauna not found anywhere else.
The Juan Fernández Archipelago is a set of islands located in the South Pacific, 670 kilometres off the coast of Chile. Home to a population of approximately 1,000 people, 99% of the archipelago was declared a National Park in 1935. The archipelago was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977 and expanded in 2019 to help protect the large number of endemic species (approximately 130), many of which are endangered due to the introduction of invasive species. The archipelago and Biosphere Reserve includes the islands of Robinson Crusoe, Alexander Selkirk, Santa Clara and all the islets in the area.
The donation coincided with the one-year anniversary of Teck’s commitment to supporting a nature positive future. This includes working with local partners, communities and Indigenous Peoples to conserve ecologically and culturally significant lands like the Juan Fernández Archipelago and conserving or rehabilitating at least three hectares for every one hectare affected by Teck’s mining activities.
Read more about our approach to Biodiversity and our Nature Positive Commitment on our website.
