In August 2007, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and BHP Billiton joined with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), to launch CReefs, a four year, $3.4 million program. The partnership allowed the iconic Australian reef sites of the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef to be included in the CReefs global research initiative.
CReefs (www.creefs.org) is the coral reef component of the Census of Marine Life (www.coml.org), a global network of researchers in more than 80 nations engaged in a ten year initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life in oceans - past, present, and future.
The CReefs Partnership also includes an employee engagement program which allows BHP Billiton's environmental professionals to participate in the field expeditions. Employees assist the scientists with field and laboratory activities, giving them with a first hand, underwater look at the work the scientists are doing.
“We are delighted to make such an important contribution to advancing science’s understanding of coral reef biodiversity which will lead to sustainable management and preservation, of our coral reefs. This project strongly aligns with the company’s business and forms part of our commitment to invest 1% of our pre-tax profits globally on social and environmental programs.”
BHP Billiton Group Executive and Chief Executive Ferrous and Coal, Marcus Randolph
Partnership Successes
In September 2008, CReefs scientists released the first results of this landmark study, led by AIMS, to record the diversity of life in and around Australia’s renowned reefs (Sep 19 - CReefs science results ). Working at Lizard and Heron Islands on the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef in northwestern Australia, researchers turned up a wealth of new insights into – and stunning images of – ocean life, much of it never seen by humans before, including:
- About 300 soft coral species, up to half of them thought to be new to science;
- Dozens of small crustacean species – and potentially one or more families – likewise thought unknown to science;
- A rarely sampled amphipod called Maxillipiidae, featuring a bizarre whip-like back leg about three times the size of its body. Only a few species are recorded worldwide;
- New species of tanaid crustaceans, shrimp-like animals, some with claws longer than their bodies; and
- Scores of tiny amphipod crustaceans – insects of the marine world – of which an estimated 40 to 60 per cent will be formally described for the first time.
To date, eight BHP Billiton employees have participated in field expeditions across a range of reef sites and all have found the experience both valuable and fascinating.
“A wonderful and invaluable experience. I have a better appreciation of the potential power of multi-disciplinary teams.”
Mark Daniell, HSEC Superintendent, Cannington Mine
“The expedition gave me a unique insight into the type of baseline scientific studies and assessments conducted in relation to environmental approvals for our current growth projects. I made some great contacts within local institutions that will benefit my involvement in future projects”
Cleve Etherington, Environmental graduate, Western Australia Iron Ore
“The research and field work and working with a team of scientists gave me a really good insight into how such expeditions work, and an understanding of how work we contract out to our consultants would be organised. The insight into professional research can be applied to any type of research run through or done by the company.”
Michelle Vardy, Environmental graduate, Western Australia Iron Ore