Africa-Press – Liberia. He noted that the company’s proactive approach includes reforestation with native species in the areas of soil stabilization and creation of habitats for local wildlife.
ArcelorMittal-Liberia has commemorated World Environment Day with a focus on restoration of used land.
The company on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Yekepa joined the world to commemorate the day with the involvement of cross-sections of staff and students from schools, including the Bishop Carroll High School, the Unification High School and ArcelorMittal High School among many others.
The World Environment Day was held under the global theme: “Generation Restoration; Restoring Our Planet” with ArcelorMittal commemorating the day under the theme: “Liberia Used Our Land—Our Future, We Are Generation Restoration”.
At the at the event, ArcelorMittal’s head of Sustainability and External Relations, Mr. Marcus S. Wleh, said responsible mining and environmental stewardship can and must go hand in hand, adding that his company approach is rooted in the understanding that long-term business success is intrinsically linked to the health of the ecosystems and communities of it operates.
Mr. Wleh disclosed that mining inevitably disturbs the land as he pledged the company‘s commitment to restore land being used by the company alongside those lands that the company is yet to use.
“Our comprehensive land restoration programs begin with thorough environmental impact assessments before mining even starts; We engage in progressive rehabilitation, meaning we restore sections of land as soon as they are no longer needed for mining rather than waiting until the end of the project”, he revealed.
He noted that the company’s proactive approach includes reforestation with native species in the areas of soil stabilization and creation of habitats for local wildlife to ensure that the land be productive and resilient long after the company leaves.
Combating Drought and Desertification
At the same time, Mr. Marcus Wleh has lamented that desertification threatens the livelihoods of millions which turned fertile land into desert, stating that ArclorMittal—Liberia is combating such situation through sustainable land management practices, including planting of vegetation to prevent soil erosion, using cover crops to maintain soil health, and implementing agroforestry system that combine agriculture and forestry to boost land productivity and biodiversity among others.
Mr. Wleh asserted that his mining company is not only fighting desertification, but also enhancing carbon sequestration and contributing to the global fight against climate change.
ArcelorMittal’s Head of Sustainability and External Relations informed the audience that ArclorMittal—Liberia as a responsible mining company is committed to extending beyond compliances as the company is currently actively engage with the local communities, government and environmental organizations to align their efforts with broader conservation goals.
He, however, announced that the company is focused on building capacity and resilience in communities around the company operations to ensure that they are well equipped to face environmental challenges.
Mr. Wleh added: “While the mining industry faces significant environmental challenges, it also holds the potential to drive positive change by integrating sustainability into the company core operations and prioritizing land restoration; it is fighting against desertification and is dedicated to being part of the solution by ensuring that planet remains vibrant and resilient for the future generation”.
For her part, student Blessing Gono of ArclorMittal High School told the gathering it’s essential for the country to reflect on the profound impact of human actions on planet earth’s health.
She asserted that many people have not fully grasped the extent to which the challenges the planet faces from deforestation and desertification in the areas of freshwater sources and loss of biodiversity.
The 8-year-old student termed awareness as a first step towards action and is binding on everyone to educate the world about the environment.
She named reducing waste, conserving energy and advocating for environmental protection as some of the measures that can be used to contribute to restoring the ecosystem and preserving the future.
Student Gono used the occasion to create awareness, ignite conversation, and inspire positive behavior change to help impact the lives of Liberians.
Also speaking, students Elijah Nyeneken and Emmanuel Johnson of Bishop Carroll High School and Unification High School admonished Liberians to join the fight against climate change and take on environmental stewardship in their respective communities
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