Biodiversity leaders from Calibre Mining Corp (TSE: CXB) (OTCMKTS: CXBMF) recently met to review their achievements and formulate the path forward in the years to come. Much has been accomplished in the countries that Calibre operates in, but there is always room for improvement.
In Newfoundland, the company’s latest area of focus after acquiring the Valentine mine from Marathon Gold, Calibre has been making significant strides to protect local flora and fauna. The main focuses are water management, wildlife habitat conservation and engaging with local communities. This includes educating youth at local schools about the importance of sustainable mining practices.
This province within Atlantic Canada has the world’s largest population of woodland caribou, which migrate through the project area twice per annum. Calibre has developed a protection and mitigation plan to enable as little interference with the animals as possible.
This scheme, and other environmental assessments (EA), have been reviewed by local stakeholders, organizations and Indigenous groups. Calibre has also taken the time to identify rare plants at its project site and move them to areas where they will be more likely to thrive.
“During the EA, the team looked for rare plants – and did find some called nodding water nymphs,” Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs at Valentine, James Powell, explained. “We transplanted them to an area approximately 25 kilometres from the project site, into similar habitat, and the plants have taken hold and flourished.”
Construction and engineering are nearly complete
Construction at the Valentine Gold Mine is approximately 85 per cent wrapped up and first gold is on schedule to be poured during the second quarter of 2025.
It is one of the world’s most promising gold assets under development. Furthermore, the Canadian province it resides in is known for being a very mining-friendly jurisdiction.
On another note, Calibre recently initiated a partnership with a Newfoundland non-profit organization to help inspire young ladies and gender-diverse youth to consider career opportunities in the mining industry. Namely, the Women in Resource Development Corp.
One of the insights that became evident to the analysts who recently visited Valentine Gold Mine site was this:💡the strong sense of purpose and commitment our people bring to the project💡
Take a look at what they experienced 👉 https://t.co/k8dHkSICGi#CalibreMining pic.twitter.com/ZFlHnbUpXH
— Calibre Mining Corp. (@CalibreMiningCo) December 6, 2024
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Calibre prioritizes animal rescue in Central America
In Nicaragua, a nation that Calibre entered after acquiring local assets from B2Gold Corp (TSE: BTO) (NYSEAMERICAN: BTG) in 2019, the company has taken the initiative to rescue local animals in peril. B2Gold currently holds a 4 per cent stake in Calibre.
Creatures that Calibre has helped relocate and remove from harm’s way include different species of snakes and sloths.
“The data we collect provides information for a national database that tracks the population and distribution of different species,” Calibre says.
The gold producer’s environment and permitting manager in Nicaragua, Alejandra Madriz, explained that Calibre’s rescue team has become a go-to asset for concerned locals.
“Our whole community has started to call on our rescue brigade to save animals in need of help,” Madriz said.
Calibre educates Nicaraguan youth with mobile app
Calibre has also created the youth initiative “Little Naturalists” to educate young people between the ages of 8 and 16 about local biodiversity and the importance of protecting the ecosystem. This program even has its own educational mobile app.
“We love working with kids and engaging with schools on environmental education,” Madriz stated, “and we’re really proud to be recognized as a key community partner in environmental protection.”
Calibre was even able to leave a former mine site in better condition than it was before gold was extracted from the area. The Santo Domingo Mine reclamation project, in south-central Nicaragua, was immensely successful.
“Our monitoring showed that after reclamation, the environment was left in better quality than what it was before we got there, and there are more species there now,” Madriz elaborated.
Calibre recently received a favourable assay on one of its core samples taken from the nation’s Limon Mine Complex. It has boosted the company’s confidence in the site’s mineral resources.
The intercept contained 12.57 grams per tonne gold over 7.1 metres estimated true width, including 26.65 g/t Au over 3.3 metres.
Hear from @CalibreMiningCo $CXB.TO | $CXBMF SVP Corporate Development Ryan King as he discusses the Company’s great success and exciting drill results in Nicaragua at #KinvestorDay 2024.
Full Presentation Here: https://t.co/6nbbRh7MJu#GoldProduction #GoldMining #KD24 pic.twitter.com/v2dov8mH5x
— Kin Communications (@kincomm) November 15, 2024
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Migratory birds are priority #1 in Nevada
At the Pan Gold Mine, Calibre’s longest-held producing asset, the company has taken a particular interest in protecting migratory birds like the golden eagle. Also, the sage-grouse and other local wildlife.
“Our biological monitoring for the golden eagles in the area is extensive,” Pan’s environmental affairs manager, Dan Ferriter, explained. He says that Calibre uses helicopters to find them and will take the necessary steps to protect them once they have been located.
Keeping tabs on them throughout their entire life cycle has been a key priority for years now.
“We’re able to track that whole process until the young eagles can fly,” Ferriter says. “We can actually see the results of our conservation work!”
Calibre recently completed an extensive heap leach pad expansion at Pan. It will provide the gold miner with an additional four years of mining capacity at the project.
At the end of October, Calibre published its first-ever Climate Change Report. It highlights the company’s adaption and mitigation strategies being implemented in day-to-day decision-making for protecting the environment.
Read more: Calibre Mining highlights responsible energy usage in first-ever Climate Report
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