Alcoa of Australia - A 1990 Global 500 Laureate

Alcoa is the world's biggest alumina producer. The company's three refineries in Western Australia produce about 15 percent of world demand.

Since the 1960s, Alcoa has been developing a successful mine-site reforestation programme that integrates environmental protection with industrial development.

The bauxite ore is mined in a forested plateau, where the main tree species are jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (E. Calophylla). The jarrah is a rare, fine-grained hardwood that takes a high polish. It looks something like red mahogany. Alcoa clears and rehabilitates about 500 hectares of this forest each year. Since mining began in 1963, less than 1% of the forest has been cleared.

When Alcoa was nominated to UNEP's Roll of Honour in 1990 Mr Graham Slessar, Alcoa's Environmental Manager, said:

"We have demonstrated that jarrah and understorey species will grow successfully in rehabilitated pits. Jarrah is the major tree species used in the rehabilitation."

This rehabilitated area at the Jarrahdale Mine is a 50/50 mix of jarrah (E. marginata) and tallowwood (E. microcorys). This photograph was taken when the trees were 21 years old. They represent one of the early demonstrations that jarrah could be successfully re-established.