Zijin Golden Ridge Limited (ZGRL) has unveiled the Atewa Biodiversity Offset Project, marking Ghana’s first large-scale, science-driven biodiversity offset initiative in the mining sector. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Forestry Commission of Ghana.
The 10-year initiative is designed to ensure “no net loss” of biodiversity affected by mining operations at the Akyem Mine.
It focuses on safeguarding and restoring the ecologically sensitive Atewa Range Forest Reserve through targeted interventions such as forest protection, habitat restoration, enrichment planting and sustainable livelihood support for local communities.
Speaking at the launch, Jason Zhang, Vice President for Sustainability and External Relations at ZGRL, underscored the company’s environmental commitment, adding that the project reflects a deliberate effort to balance mining activities with long-term ecological preservation.
“This initiative demonstrates our commitment to responsible mining and environmental stewardship,” he said.
“Working with the Forestry Commission, we aim to restore and protect biodiversity impacted by mining for future generations.”
The launch aligns with Ghana’s broader environmental agenda which prioritises forest conservation as a key pillar of national development.
Recently, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, minister for Lands and Natural Resources and acting minister for Environment, Science and Technology announced significant progress under the government’s reforestation drive.
Under the second phase of the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative held under the theme: “Forests and “Economies”, the country recorded the planting of over 30 million seedlings in 2025, generating more than 41,000 jobs with a similar target set for 2026.
The Atewa Biodiversity Offset Project complements this national vision by linking conservation efforts with employment creation, community development and long-term environmental sustainability.
As part of the project rollout, ZGRL presented a range of logistics to the Forestry Commission at a ceremony in Accra. The support package included operational vehicles, drones, communication devices, and field monitoring equipment aimed at enhancing the Commission’s capacity to protect the Atewa forest landscape.
Unlike traditional reforestation programmes, the initiative is designed to address “residual” environmental impacts of mining such as habitat destruction and the displacement of threatened species that cannot be mitigated through tree planting alone.
ZGRL has already surpassed its reforestation obligation, establishing 317 hectares of plantation forest, exceeding the required 303 hectares.
The biodiversity offset programme now aims to achieve 371 “Quality Hectares,” an internationally recognised metric for measuring biodiversity value, within the project’s lifespan.
In 2026, the programme is set for significant expansion, with approximately 1,500 hectares earmarked for enrichment planting and an additional 500 hectares targeted for active restoration.
Local communities remain central to the project’s success. More than 200 residents were employed during the pilot phase of enrichment planting, which achieved an impressive 94.6 percent seedling survival rate. Additionally, over 44 communities in and around the Atewa Forest Reserve were engaged during feasibility and planning stages.
The logistics support provided to the Forestry Commission includes pickup trucks and station wagons for fieldwork, drones and laptops for monitoring, two-way radios and mobile phones for communication, camp tents for remote patrols, and a specially equipped audiovisual van to enhance community outreach and education.
The Atewa Biodiversity Offset Project officially entered its implementation phase in 2025 and is expected to run through at least 2035.
It is being executed in partnership with key stakeholders, including the Resource Management Support Centre, Conservation Alliance and international biodiversity experts such as Wychwood Biodiversity and The Biodiversity Consultancy.
The initiative forms part of ZGRL’s Environmental and Forest Entry Permit requirements and is aligned with the International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 6.
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