Udaipur to Get Crocodile Conservation Reserve Through Hindustan Zinc MoU.

On International Day for Biodiversity, Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL) reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection with its Rajasthan-based subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc Limited, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Forest, Udaipur. The agreement aims to revitalize the Baghdarrah crocodile conservation reserve with an investment of ₹5 crore.

This initiative marks a significant public-private partnership focused on ecological restoration, with plans to transform the nearly 400-hectare reserve into a thriving habitat for marsh crocodiles. The Baghdarrah Conservation Reserve, located in the Kaladvas Gram Panchayat, is already a biologically rich area centered around a perennial lake and home to 200 avian species.

Vedanta's multi-dimensional development strategy for the reserve includes a wide range of conservation, infrastructure, and community-oriented activities. Key efforts will focus on restoring the natural habitat for crocodiles through afforestation, developing water conservation infrastructure like check dams and ponds, and creating eco-sensitive visitor zones including walking trails, shelters, and educational exhibits. This initiative aligns with the company's focus on UN SDG 15 (Life on Land) and resonates with this year's International Day for Biodiversity theme of 'Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development'.

Wider Conservation Efforts by Vedanta

Vedanta has been a leader in safeguarding wildlife through its flagship animal welfare project, The Animal Care Organization (TACO). Operating a 24x7 veterinary hospital, a shelter for abandoned and stray animals, and an Animal Birth Control Centre in Faridabad, Haryana, TACO provides advanced animal healthcare, preventive veterinary care, and emergency services.

Under TACO's wildlife conservation initiative, 'Mission Vanraksha', Vedanta has forged strategic partnerships with significant national parks. These include collaborations with Kaziranga National Park in Assam for the conservation of the one-horned rhino, and with Ranthambore National Park and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. These partnerships bolster conservation efforts through anti-poaching camps, surveillance vehicles, and improved dwelling units for frontline workers.

Ms. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd., emphasized the company's dedication, stating, "Biodiversity is the heart of our planet, and every creature, from the smallest butterfly to the majestic tiger, plays a vital role in its rhythm. Through TACO and our conservation initiatives, we're protecting ecosystems and building a future where animals and communities thrive together. Our partnerships with iconic sanctuaries like Ranthambore and Kaziranga reflect our deep commitment to nurturing nature's delicate balance."

Vedanta has also undertaken various biodiversity conservation initiatives across its business units, including massive afforestation drives, reclaiming wasteyards into greenbelts, and implementing Miyawaki plantations. In Rajasthan, Hindustan Zinc is in the second phase of transforming 16 hectares of wasteland at the Chanderiya Lead-Zinc Smelter into a greenbelt, using Mycorrhiza technology in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). In Goa, the company's subsidiary, Sesa Goa, has reclaimed 200 hectares of the Sanquelim Mines, fostering native species and medicinal plants through agroforestry.

Further, Vedanta Aluminium's Biodiversity Park in Jharsuguda, Odisha, boasts over 30 butterfly species, and its Avian Arena Park in Lanjigarh, Odisha, offers safe nesting sites and bird baths. Cairn Oil & Gas's 86-acre man-made mangroves at Ravva, Andhra Pradesh, shelter 150 bird species, Smooth-Coated Otters, and the endangered Fishing Cat. In Rajasthan, Cairn has conducted habitat identification and awareness sessions for Spiny-Tailed Lizards.

In line with the World Economic Forum's Trillion Tree initiative, Vedanta has planted over 2 million trees since FY21 and aims to achieve 7 million trees by 2030. The company is committed to achieving no net loss of biodiversity at all operational sites and has completed biodiversity screening for 100% of its 52 operational assets, establishing a comprehensive biodiversity baseline.