Our approach to biodiversity management
Our biodiversity management
Vale seeks to manage its impacts by following the stages of the mitigation hierarchy, producing knowledge and results that can serve as benchmarks for the mining industry and other sectors.
Through partnerships and engagement, we seek to ensure that our actions not only address the management of negative impacts but also generate positive outcomes for our operations and beyond our boundaries, contributing to a nature-positive future on a global scale.
As cross-cutting topics, nature and biodiversity are governed by our Sustainability Policy, which aims to prevent and minimize risks and negative impacts while maximizing positive impacts, creating social, environmental and economic value beyond the Company’s operations. A key principle of this policy is the pursuit of nature-positive outcomes through investments in restoration, conservation and research, integrating biodiversity, climate, water and people. The policy applies to Vale S.A. and its subsidiaries throughout the life cycle of their operations and in all regions in which they are present. It also provides guidance to our suppliers on Vale’s non-negotiable requirements for responsible operations. It is important to note that the policy is aligned with the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly targets 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 15, 20 and 21.
Biodiversity management is integrated into Vale’s governance structure, including the statutory Sustainability Committee, which supports the Board of Directors, as well as other mechanisms and core processes. The Executive Sustainability Committee is responsible for developing guidelines and a strategic plan, taking social and environmental issues into account, submitting them to the Board of Directors, and implementing the approved plan. In 2021, the Board of Directors appointed an executive vice president of sustainability. The position is responsible for implementing the biodiversity-related policies and general guidelines established by the Board, identifying, assessing and managing nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities, addressing critical issues that may create business risks or impacts, and evaluating proposed sustainability investments. One of the policies that the executive vice president of sustainability is responsible for implementing is the Sustainability Policy (learn more in Governance).
Nature and biodiversity are integrated into our strategic sustainability plans and applied throughout Vale, in alignment with our Sustainability Policy and Corporate Biodiversity Standard. Our guidelines and strategic plans are approved by the Board of Directors, and their implementation is monitored in all areas of the Company through reports from the executive vice presidents and oversight by the Advisory Committees. Biodiversity risks are incorporated into the Company’s integrated risk map and risk management framework. Our pilot implementation of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework informed revisions to the biodiversity risk management process based on an integrated assessment conducted by a multidisciplinary team. This process was approved by and is monitored by the Sustainability Risk Executive Committee.
Explanatory note
The mitigation hierarchy is a sequential approach to biodiversity management in the planning and implementation of productive activities. It consists of four stages: avoid, minimize, restore and offset.
All operational sites have environmental teams and biodiversity specialists responsible for managing biodiversity plans and programs, as well as related operational risks. These teams report to the Corporate Biodiversity team, which is part of the Climate, Nature and Cultural Investments Department and reports to the Executive Vice President of Sustainability.
Biodiversity management is integrated into the specific requirements of the Vale Production System (VPS), based on the internal standard that establishes the Biodiversity Management Guidelines and Processes. Published in 2020 and revised in 2023, this standard applies to all projects and operations, covering the planning, implementation, operation and closure stages. The guidelines and processes are based on the mitigation hierarchy, focus on managing biodiversity impacts and risks, and support the achievement of our commitments.
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Targets and commitments
The commitments in our 2030 agenda include targets aimed at reducing pressures on nature and biodiversity, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater withdrawals, as well as our Forest Goal, which extends beyond our operational boundaries by building partnerships to deliver positive outcomes for nature at the landscape scale.
Vale has three core commitments related to nature and biodiversity:
- Restore and protect 500,000 hectares by 2030 beyond our operational boundaries (Forest Goal).
- Not operate in UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites.
- Prevent and offset significant impacts from new projects and expansions located in areas of high biodiversity value, with the goal of achieving no net loss.
All of these commitments are aligned with the ICMM Nature Position Statement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Forest Target
The Forest Goal is part of Vale’s commitment to advancing the protection and restoration agenda through partnerships. It also forms part of Vale’s climate strategy to achieve its net zero target by 2050.
The Forest Goal comprises two objectives: restoring 100,000 hectares and protecting 400,000 hectares. This voluntary commitment goes beyond our legal obligations and is intended to contribute to nature-positive outcomes. The goal was established using a 2019 baseline, which showed that more than 80% of the areas impacted by our operations were associated with the Atlantic Forest and Amazon Rainforest biomes, while also taking into account our capacity to support conservation and restoration efforts. In 2019, our baseline consisted of approximately 850,000 hectares of areas protected by Vale, including Company-owned areas and partnership initiatives. The goal is aligned with targets 2, 3 and 10 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The strategy for achieving this goal is based on building partnerships, drawing on the experience of the Vale Natural Reserve (VNR) and the Fundo Vale to strengthen capabilities and support businesses focused on this agenda, thereby generating impacts that extend beyond this commitment.
The Vale Natural Reserve is a protected area owned by Vale in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. One of the largest remaining areas of Atlantic Forest, it covers 23,000 hectares and has more than 40 years of experience in conservation, research and partnerships. Fundo Vale is a fund established by the Company in 2009 to support initiatives and invest in projects that generate positive social and environmental impact.
To protect 400,000 hectares, we are applying a model similar to one that has been used in the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest for nearly 40 years, leveraging the Vale Natural Reserve’s expertise and establishing partnerships with protected areas to support conservation efforts. In 2022, we began evaluating additional protection mechanisms, including REDD+ projects, with the aim of better integrating these efforts with our climate commitments. By the end of 2025, we had achieved 45% of the Forest Goal, restoring 25,364 hectares and protecting 200,093 hectares. These areas help maintain significant carbon stocks, supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation while contributing to climate regulation. They also protect springs and waterways that are essential to water security in the regions where they are located. Actions under the Forest Goal also support the effective management and conservation of these areas while engaging local communities.
We have already reached an important milestone: 200,000 hectares protected beyond our operational boundaries, representing 50% of our Forest Goal protection target.
To restore 100,000 hectares, Fundo Vale has built a network of partners and positive social and environmental impact businesses that are implementing sustainable land management systems, improving landscape connectivity, sequestering carbon and generating jobs and income for local communities. As of December 2025, these supported businesses had restored 25,364 hectares of degraded land by implementing sustainable models.
Learn about the Forest Goal Theory of Change.
Explanatory Note
REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries) is an incentive program developed within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to financially reward developing countries for their achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from deforestation and forest degradation.
Progress toward the Forest Goal as of 2025
Between 2020 and 2025, we protected and restored 225,457 hectares, achieving around 45% of our commitment in the first five years.
Forest Goal coverage: geographic distribution of 500,000 hectares
Commitment to no net loss
Our long-term goal is to prevent and offset significant impacts from new projects and expansions located in areas of high biodiversity value, pursuing a commitment to no net loss and, whenever possible, achieving net gain. Our commitment to no net loss is recognized and approved by the Sustainability Committee and the Board of Directors.
The Sustainability Committee, which reports to the Board of Directors, holds informational and decision-making sessions and reports at least annually on our nature and biodiversity strategy and performance.
This commitment is aligned with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Target 15, which addresses the management, reduction and disclosure of biodiversity-related impacts and risks.
Our strategy includes biodiversity risk assessment and the prioritization of biodiversity attributes, using the mitigation hierarchy as the foundation for developing action plans and management plans, as well as enhancing existing ones. These plans are developed with input from specialists and internal and external stakeholders and also promote the generation of scientific knowledge to support decisions and targets for each project and operation.
The pilot implementation of the management plan for the S11D Mine in Carajás enabled us to deepen our understanding of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and adapt their application to our operating context. In 2020, we published our internal corporate standard establishing biodiversity management guidelines and processes, which was revised in 2023. The standard encompasses all stages of the mitigation hierarchy, including offset measures through ecosystem restoration and conservation to achieve no net loss of habitats (no net deforestation) and species.
Summary of processes established under the corporate standard
Learn about initiatives supporting our path toward no net loss in the Vale & Biodiversity 2021 publication.
Case study: Implementation of the corporate standard
A pilot project at the S11D Mine was featured in the Vale & Biodiversity 2021 publication. Changes to the S11D project layout avoided the clearing of more than 1,000 hectares of forest. Through major investments in technology and innovation, we reduced fuel consumption by 70%, greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and water consumption by 93%.
Our restoration efforts also reconnected forests that had previously been separated by degraded areas. We planted nearly 1 million seedlings, restoring more than 5,000 hectares of forest. Monitoring of these restored areas has detected the presence of large felines such as the jaguar (Panthera onca) and the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). As apex predators, their presence indicates progress in the recovery of biodiversity in these areas.
A jaguar (Panthera onca) photographed by a camera trap during wildlife monitoring in restored areas.
A study conducted by the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV) concluded that these forest restoration efforts effectively reversed the prevailing trend of environmental degradation across the landscape and delivered substantial biodiversity gains for the region. Learn more here.
The biodiversity offset plan focused on conserving caves and iron-rich rocky grasslands. With particular attention to the Tarzan and Bocaina mountain ranges, we supported the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) in the establishment and protection of the Campos Ferruginosos (Iron-Rich Grasslands) National Park in Carajás.
Campos Ferruginosos National Park, Carajás. Photo: Lourival Tyski.
Campos Ferruginosos National Park, Carajás. Photo: Lourival Tyski.
Photo: Vale Archive.
Commitment to not operate in UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites
In line with the ICMM Nature Position Statement, we have publicly reaffirmed our commitment to not operate in UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites. This commitment is embedded in Vale’s Biodiversity Management Guidelines and Processes, which form part of the Company’s Corporate Biodiversity Standard. It is important to note that we have no projects or operations in these areas.
We also help protect part of an important World Heritage Site – the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves, through the conservation of the Vale Natural Reserve and the Sooretama Biological Reserve.
The Vale Natural Reserve is a Vale-owned property in the state of Espírito Santo encompassing 23,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest that have been voluntarily set aside for conservation and research. The Sooretama Biological Reserve is a federally protected area adjacent to the Vale Natural Reserve, with which we partner to support conservation initiatives. Together, they form the largest remaining block of Atlantic Forest in the state, covering approximately 50,000 hectares and providing protected habitat for threatened and endemic species.
Alignment with global and national agendas
Our targets and commitments, as well as our nature strategy, are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Brazil’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Some of Vale’s actions aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. To learn more about progress toward our targets, visit the Climate, Water and Effluents and Atmospheric Emissions (non-GHG) pages. You can also access our TNFD Report and information aligned with the recommended disclosures in the TNFD section of the ESG Databook).
As a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), Vale actively participated in the development of its new Nature Position and is committed to contributing to a nature-positive future by supporting and implementing measures to reduce and manage impacts in its operations, taking direct action in its value chain, pursuing partnerships to advance landscape restoration and conservation, driving systemic transformation, and providing transparency regarding its actions and results.
As a member of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), Vale has committed to the Brazilian Business Commitment for Biodiversity, reaffirming the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services to our business while demonstrating our progress in their conservation and sustainable use.
As a member of the LIFE Institute’s Coalition for Business and Biodiversity since 2024, Vale has been working with leading companies and financial institutions to develop methods for measuring biodiversity and accelerating global conservation through concrete actions and transformative solutions. In 2025, Vale implemented the LIFE methodology to assess biodiversity performance at its sites.
Our dependencies and impacts
We seek the best methods, technologies and practices to minimize our interference with natural resources. Even so, our operations have direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity.
To map and assess these impacts, we conduct specific assessments covering the entire project life cycle, from planning our entry into new locations to final project design. These assessments evaluate potential impacts on natural heritage areas and protected areas, as well as sensitive habitats and species. All operational expansions and new projects are preceded by environmental impact assessments, in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable in each country and region where we operate. These impacts are reported annually by operational environmental teams to the corporate environmental area. Based on these reports, the most material impacts are identified according to the frequency with which they are reported and assessed.
The implementation of the TNFD’s Locate, Evaluate, Assess and Prepare (LEAP) approach confirmed the results for the most material impacts already tracked through our annual reporting process. To assess the materiality of impacts for each business activity (mining, railroads and ports), we used the ENCORE tool. Impact drivers were quantified using data on emissions, water use, pollutants, waste and biodiversity reported annually by our operations and made available at the corporate level in Vale’s 2023 ESG Databook. Data from the 2018–2022 period was used. Our most material impacts are related to water use and changes to natural ecosystems.
Guided by the mitigation hierarchy, we implement prevention, control, mitigation, restoration and offset measures to reduce and neutralize our impacts while incorporating the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services into our business activities. Our actions comply with legal requirements, but whenever possible we go beyond compliance by implementing additional landscape-scale restoration and conservation initiatives.
It is important to note that actions focused on avoiding and mitigating impacts related to land use change and vegetation clearing also prevent greenhouse gas emissions. These measures are reinforced during the project planning stage through biodiversity and climate change standards, guidelines and recommendations. Likewise, actions focused on restoration and compensation support carbon sequestration and the maintenance of carbon stocks, and their results are assessed through our carbon accounting.
Based on an assessment of the location of our operations and the results of our annual indicator reporting, our most material impacts involve changes to ecosystems, primarily resulting from land use change and vegetation cover loss, leading to localized flora loss and the reduction or alteration of fauna habitats. In 2025, the total area affected by Vale’s operations amounted to 109,196 hectares. This footprint includes areas that have already been altered to develop our operations, as well as those that have already received formal authorization from environmental regulatory authorities for execution and operation. Most of this area is located in Brazil, affecting the Amazon Rainforest and Atlantic Forest biomes.
In our planning and strategy, we always consider our business’ dependence on water provision. In 2024, following the implementation of the TNFD’s LEAP approach, we mapped the material dependencies in our different processes (mining, railroads and ports). We identified a high level of asset dependence on water provision (both groundwater and surface water), as well as on climate regulation, mass stabilization and erosion control. For our mining operations, the most material dependencies are water provision (groundwater and surface water), water flow maintenance and climate regulation. For our railroads, the most material dependencies are mass stabilization and erosion control, while for our ports, the most material dependency is water provision (groundwater and surface water). (See the risks associated with impacts and dependencies in Biodiversity Risk Management).
Areas of high biodiversity value
Some of our operations in Brazil, in the states of Pará and Minas Gerais, overlap with protected areas designated under Brazil’s National System of Conservation Areas (SNUC). These areas include Vale’s operations in Carajás, Pará, which are located within the Carajás National Forest and the Tapirapé-Aquiri National Forest, both sustainable-use conservation areas (IUCN Category VI), whose establishing decrees permit the Company’s activities. Our operations in the Iron Quadrangle region of Minas Gerais overlap with the South Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region Environmental Protection Area, which is also a sustainable-use conservation area (IUCN Category V), whose establishing decree permits human activities.
| Extent of land use change in areas of high biodiversity value (GRI 304-1/2023) | Hectares |
|---|---|
Total impacted area (surface and underground) |
100,268
|
Total impacted area in wilderness areas |
61,563
|
Total impacted area in biodiversity hotspots |
30,332
|
Impacted areas within protected areas |
35,370
|
Impacted areas adjacent to protected areas |
39,406
|
Impacted areas within priority conservation areas outside protected areas |
26,551
|
Impacted areas adjacent to priority conservation areas outside protected areas |
23,576
|
Note: The protected areas affected by Vale’s operations are sustainable-use conservation areas under Brazilian legislation and correspond to categories V and VI of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their establishing decrees permit Vale to carry out its activities within these areas. Protected areas are considered adjacent when they are located within a 10 km buffer of our operations.
The protected areas adjacent to our operations consist primarily of conservation areas owned by Vale. These are established or proposed private nature reserves (IUCN Category IV) located near our operational sites. They also include conservation areas created and supported by Vale, such as the Campos Ferruginosos National Park (IUCN Category II), established as part of the environmental licensing process for the S11D Eliezer Batista Complex in Carajás, and the Gandarela National Park, whose land tenure regularization has been supported by Vale.
With respect to other categories of areas of high biodiversity importance, our operations overlap with or are adjacent to certain Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Ramsar Sites. The latter are ecologically important sites designated under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)), as shown in the table below:
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)
| Country/Location | Type of operation | Category of importance for biodiversity¹ | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
Mariana, Brazil |
Mine/plant |
KBA
|
Includes portions |
Ipatinga, Brazil |
Logistics/railroad |
Ramsar Site
|
Adjacent²
|
Carajás, Brazil |
Logistics/railroad |
KBA
|
Includes portions |
Carajás, Brazil |
Mine/plant |
KBA
|
Overlaps
|
Logistics/port and railroad |
Ramsar Site
|
Includes portions |
|
São Luís, Brazil |
Logistics/port and railroad |
KBA
|
Includes portions |
Sohar, Oman |
Pellet plant/distribution center |
KBA
|
Includes portions |
Clydach, Wales |
Plant |
Ramsar Site
|
Adjacent²
|
1. Sources consulted: https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/; https://rsis.ramsar.org/; https://www.ibat-alliance.org (free IBAT Account)
2. For adjacent areas, a 10 km buffer from the outer boundaries of areas of high biodiversity importance was applied, and its overlap with the operational site’s area was assessed.
Operations that generate significant impacts in areas of high biodiversity value require Biodiversity Management Plans. Of the 48 operational sites assessed in 2025, 95.8% (46 sites) require such plans. All of them have specific plans in place, providing for actions to support the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy, including monitoring, recovery/restoration and biodiversity offsets. Two additional plans are in the proposal stage and some operational sites have more than one plan. (See the ESG Databook, Environmental Data, GRI 101-2d).
It is worth noting that in 2025, Vale formalized its strategic partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) after three years of constructive engagement. This partnership provides an opportunity for Vale to further incorporate nature-positive approaches, strengthening management of its operations and advancing its conservation and restoration agenda in the regions where it operates.
Conservation and restoration
Vale protects and helps protect approximately 1 million hectares, an area 10 times larger than that occupied by the Company’s operations. This total includes properties owned by Vale and third parties that are protected through partnerships with environmental agencies, to comply with legal requirements, as well as through voluntary initiatives. These areas are located in territories of high biodiversity value and priority conservation areas, such as biodiversity hotspots and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), protecting around 500 threatened species according to 2024 data.
Areas protected by Vale
| Protected area | Location | Biome | Ownership | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carajás National Forest
|
Pará, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
391,004.00 |
Tapirapé-Aquiri National Forest
|
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
114,239.58 |
||
Itacaiúnas National Forest
|
Pará, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
136,592.30 |
Tapirapé Biological Reserve
|
Pará, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
||
Igarapé do Gelado Environmental Protection Area
|
Pará, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
23,268.90 |
|
Ferruginous Fields National Park
|
Pará, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
21,997 |
Serra Leste RPPN (Private Natural Heritage Reserve)
|
Pará, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
Owned by Vale |
150.00 |
São Luís Botanical Park
|
Maranhão, Brazil |
Amazon Rainforest |
Owned by Vale |
110.00 |
Serra das Torres Monument
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest |
Partnership with IEMA |
10,458.00 |
Duas Bocas Biological Reserve
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Partnership with IEMA |
2,910.00 |
Goytacazes National Forest
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned by Vale |
1,425.00 |
Tubarão Botanical Park
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned by Vale |
30.00 |
Vale Natural Reserve
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned by Vale |
|
Sooretama Biological Reserve
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
27,800.00 |
Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve
|
Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
3,598.00 |
Cunhambebe State Park
|
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Partnership with INEA |
38,053
|
União Biological Reserve
|
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
7,756.00 |
|
RPPNs, Forest Reserves, and Environmental Easement Areas
|
Minas Gerais, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Owned by Vale |
24,179.00 |
Protection areas of four small hydroelectric plants (PCHs)
|
Minas Gerais, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
Partnership with ICMBio¹ |
330.00 |
Mata Escura Biological Reserve
|
Minas Gerais, Brazil |
Atlantic Forest
|
ICMBio¹ Partnership
|
50,892.00 |
Vale Eco Center Malaysia
|
Malaysia | Sundaland
|
Owned by Vale |
289.00 |
| Total | 976,990.08 |
[1] Source: Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio)
[2] Source: Rio de Janeiro State Environmental Institute (INEA).
Land and habitat restoration indicators
We restore degraded areas and habitats in our operations and properties to address residual impacts that cannot be avoided or mitigated. To support these efforts, we use seedlings grown from seeds collected in areas scheduled for vegetation clearing to help maintain genetic diversity, prioritizing threatened and endemic species. The restoration of degraded areas is also incorporated into our mine closure plans.
Area of owned or leased land used for production or extractive activities – disturbed or rehabilitated (2025)
| Opening and closing balance¹ | Hectares |
|---|---|
Disturbed areas (opening balance) |
61,771
|
Areas disturbed during the reporting year |
1,449
|
Areas under permanent rehabilitation during the reporting year |
1,156
|
Disturbed areas (closing balance) |
62,064
|
1. Indicator presented in accordance with the GRI Mining and Metals Sector Supplement, GRI MM1.
Research and partnerships
IInvestments in research and scientific knowledge are essential to support our impact management process, decision-making and actions. To improve and maximize the results of these actions, Vale partners with biodiversity experts, including universities, government organizations and consulting firms.
We conduct robust environmental studies and mitigation, restoration and compensation activities as part of effective action plans, while also fostering the generation and dissemination of knowledge. To support our strategy, we run the Vale Technology Institute (ITV), a research center that has operated in the Amazon since 2010. Headquartered in Belém, Pará, ITV is a leading center for scientific knowledge on biodiversity, habitat restoration, environmental DNA (eDNA) for ecosystem monitoring, climate change and biotechnology.
By 2025, ITV had invested BRL 1.026 billion in research, published 1,198 scientific papers and carried out 298 research and development projects. It also had 365 research fellows, 55 permanent researchers, and 86 patents and software registrations.
We aim to go even further by leveraging initiatives that increase positive outcomes for nature. To achieve this, we are working to strengthen partnerships focused on restoration and conservation that support the journey toward zero illegal deforestation. Through our Forest Goal, we are pursuing a path centered on partnerships and the development of an ecosystem of new nature-based businesses.
Photo: Vale Archive.
A partnership between Fundo Vale, the Institute for the Amazon’s People and Environment (Imazon), Microsoft and the Climate and Land Use Alliance created PrevisIA, a public digital platform that identifies areas at greatest risk of deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon. This artificial intelligence tool supports the planning of preventive actions and public policies.
Since 2021, Vale has had a technical cooperation agreement with the Marcos Daniel Institute, a private nonprofit association, to conserve the cherry-throated tanager (Nemosia rourei), a bird species endemic to the Atlantic Forest in Espírito Santo that is critically endangered globally. The Vale Natural Reserve supports plant surveys, degraded area restoration, monitoring and nest searches to help prevent the species from going extinct and to support its long-term survival.
Dyckia sp., one of the species being studied as part of a project supported by Vale. Publicity photo, Vale.
Only 22 individuals of the cherry-throated tanager (Nemosia rourei) are known to exist in the wild. The species is protected with support from Vale. Photo: Gustavo Magnago.
These actions are aligned with the National Action Plan for the Conservation of the Cherry-Throated Tanager. Today, only 22 individuals are known to exist in the wild, distributed across two populations: one at the Kaetés Reserve, established with support from international NGOs and managed by the Marcos Daniel Institute; and the other at the Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve, managed by ICMBio and supported by Vale as part of its Forest Goal. The Vale Institute of Technology (ITV) also contributes to the project through research on the species’ genome.
In 2022, we entered into a partnership with the São Paulo State Agency for Agribusiness Technology (APTA), focused on researching propagation and multiplication techniques for rare and endemic plant species found in the rupestrian grasslands of Minas Gerais. The Propagate Network fosters collaboration between researchers from universities and science and technology institutes, including the following:
• São Paulo State Agency for Agribusiness Technology (APTA)
• Campinas State University (Unicamp)
• Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo
• Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)
• Federal University of Viçosa (UFV)
• Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
• Feira de Santana State University (UEFS)
At the end of 2022, the Sustainable Development branch of the Vale Institute of Technology, in partnership with the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), launched an innovative program to map the genomes of Brazilian fauna and flora species that are threatened with extinction, invasive, or have the potential to generate income for farmers involved in bioeconomy projects. The Brazilian Biodiversity Genomics Project is the first initiative of its kind in Brazil and brings together researchers from national and international research institutions. The project is funded by Vale, which recognizes the importance of research in preserving Brazil’s biodiversity and values the Brazilian scientific community’s capacity to generate knowledge.
In recent years, the project has studied 611 Brazilian fauna and flora species, 563 of which have had their genomes sequenced. The initiative involves 134 partner organizations, 380 researchers and 14 ICMBio research centers. It also includes training for ICMBio staff at ITV. To date, 16 training sessions have been held, equipping 226 participants with the skills to use genetic and genomic mapping tools.
The project has sequenced 43 reference genomes, 548 population genomes and 613 organelle genomes, as well as analyzing 478 environmental samples. This data is already informing public policies and conservation strategies for key species, positioning Brazil as a global leader in genomics applied to biodiversity conservation.
Reporting (TNFD and CDP Forests)
TNFD
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is a framework that provides guidance for companies to disclose their nature-related impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities. It adopts the same approach as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and seeks to align with the standards developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The framework was developed through public consultations, and its final version was launched on September 19, 2023, during Climate Week NYC.
Since 2022, we have been a member of the TNFD Forum, participating in meetings and providing feedback on the framework. We are also part of the TNFD Pilot Program Partners group led by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), as well as the Brazilian Consultation Group led by the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS).
Photo: Vale Archive.
In 2022, we conducted a gap analysis to assess our alignment with the recommendations of the TNFD’s Locate, Evaluate, Assess and Prepare (LEAP) approach. In 2023, we carried out a pilot implementation of this approach, focusing on our active direct operations in Brazil. The main findings were as follows:
- Our most material impacts are related to water use, greenhouse gas emissions and changes in the use of terrestrial ecosystems.
- Our most material dependencies are related to water provision (groundwater and surface water), climate regulation and erosion control.
- Our risk assessment showed that the TNFD risk assessment methodology aligns well with Vale’s risk management approach. Our principal material risks are related to changes in climate patterns, reduced water availability and changes affecting areas of high biodiversity value that are home to endemic and threatened species.
IIn January 2024, during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, 320 companies announced that they had decided to take the lead as early adopters of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which aims to establish guidelines to help companies consider biodiversity and natural capital risks in their financial reporting. Participation in the TNFD is voluntary, and the initiative’s early adopters will report on their progress up to 2026.
In 2024, we made progress in implementing the LEAP approach across our operations outside Brazil and we also enhanced our biodiversity risk assessment. In 2025, Vale Base Metals (VBM) published its TNFD report (see it here), and Vale began applying the LEAP approach at two additional international sites, in Oman and Malaysia.
Note: The biodiversity content presented on this page follows the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) for the presentation of information and indicators. The information was reviewed in 2025.
Value Chain
We recognize the importance and challenges of addressing ESG issues across our value chain. Our suppliers’ practices directly influence the impacts we have on nature. Therefore, managing risks and opportunities in the value chain is essential to ensuring responsible practices that support the continuity and competitiveness of our business.
In 2022, as part of our Sustainable Procurement Program, we developed our Supplier ESG Criticality Matrix by segmenting our supplier base in Brazil, analyzing procurement categories from the perspective of environmental, social and governance risks, and aligning this approach with the guidelines of ISO 20400—Sustainable Procurement. Using this matrix, which was revised in 2024, we classify our suppliers according to their potential ESG impacts and risks, considering factors such as greenhouse gas emissions intensity, biodiversity, waste management, water resources management, integrity, forced labor, child labor and other relevant issues.
Among the more than 6,200 suppliers with which we had contractual relationships in 2024, around 2% were classified as critical (high or very high risk) for biodiversity and water.
In 2025, we assessed our suppliers’ maturity with respect to nature-related issues. Through our ESG Connection Program, we launched initiatives to engage suppliers and raise their awareness of nature-related issues, prioritizing those classified as highly critical for biodiversity and water. Three workshops were held to build capacity and promote engagement, reaching approximately 30% of the critical suppliers identified.
Learn more in Suppliers.
Photo: Vale Archive.
CDP Forests
Since 2020, Vale has publicly disclosed its responses to the CDP Forests questionnaire for the metals and mining sector to provide greater transparency into its management process. It focuses on the management of biodiversity- and forest-related impacts, risks and opportunities. The questionnaire also takes into account other reference frameworks, such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and the Cross-Sector Biodiversity Initiative (CSBI).
2024 Questionnaire CDP
2023 Questionnaire CDP
2022 Questionnaire CDP
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Biodiversity risk management
Vale recognizes the importance of conserving ecosystems and biodiversity and is improving its risk assessment policies and processes in alignment with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Since 2015, we have applied a biodiversity sensitivity and risk assessment to understand how our operations and projects interact with nature, as well as to prioritize areas with high biodiversity risk. The assessment covers nine categories of biodiversity-relevant areas and/or territories identified by global and national organizations—including Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), protected areas, biodiversity hotspots and areas that are home to threatened species—each assigned a weighting that reflects its biodiversity sensitivity and value. The areas prioritized as having high biodiversity risk are located in Brazil, in the Amazon (Carajás) and the Atlantic Forest (Iron Quadrangle region). These areas are subject to specific impact and risk management measures, consolidated into management and action plans that have been implemented to comply with legal requirements and on a voluntary basis, and are enhanced each year.
We mapped nature-related risks in our direct operations in Brazil based on an assessment of our most material dependencies and impacts by implementing the TNFD’s LEAP approach. To evaluate production processes and the materiality of impacts and dependencies, we used the SBTN materiality screening tool and ENCORE, calibrating the results based on the expertise of our team. We found that Vale’s methodology and processes are aligned with the TNFD framework and that the principal material risks identified are already well understood and actively managed.
Learn more about Risk Management at Vale.
Most material risks identified, related dependencies and impacts, and key controls
With respect to the risk of changes in areas of high biodiversity value that are home to endemic and threatened species, our internal Biodiversity Management Guidelines and Processes focus on mapping biodiversity attributes and conducting biodiversity risk assessments across all our businesses, operations and projects, based on the mitigation hierarchy and IFC Performance Standard 6 (PS6). In addition, investments in scientific research and the generation of knowledge about endemic and threatened species occurring in our areas of interest support decision-making aimed at avoiding and reducing impacts, as well as restoration and conservation actions.
Vale has established ongoing risk and impact management processes across its operations and projects, with a focus on identifying, preventing, mitigating and addressing biodiversity-related risks and adverse impacts. As reported in the CDP Forests questionnaire, all activities planned and carried out by Vale are supported by specific procedures to identify associated risks and define critical controls to eliminate, control or mitigate them. Vale has a Risk Management Policy, a Risk Management Standard and internal management procedures establishing criteria and processes for identifying, analyzing and classifying environmental risks, in addition to specific management and monitoring tools.
Learn more about Vale’s risk management process.
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