MARLIN

SUSTAINABILITY

Community Relations and Development in Guatemala

The Marlin Mine employs 1,905 workers, of which 98% are Guatemalan residents.  

We know our long-term success depends on creating value within the communities in which we operate and for all our stakeholders. Our success is tied to our ability to develop, operate and close mines in a safe and environmentally responsible manner and in a way which creates jobs and opportunities for local residents and businesses.

Goldcorp established the Fundación Sierra Madre (FSM) an organization designed to improve access to and quality of health services, increase economic opportunities by supporting micro-loans, promoting environmental awareness and developing local community capacity.  The foundation is working with communities, organizations and women’s groups to identify, plan, and implement sustainable economic development initiatives, with the goal of facilitating locally based development that will continue well beyond the life of the mine itself. The foundation has already been very active constructing or improving health clinics, banks, schools, bridges, and water delivery systems.

In addition to the work done by the Foundation, Goldcorp has undertaken additional programs.

• Established in 2005, the Asociación de Monitoreo Ambiental Comunitario (AMAC) is an independent and community-based organization that monitors the environmental performance around the Marlin mine.  To-date, none of the quarterly water test results show any significant adverse impacts related to mining activity from the Marlin mine. 
• The Marlin mine’s Sustainable Development Department directly promoted and provided funding for 30 community projects in 2009.
• The Incentivos Forestales – Forestry Incentive – finances reforestation in and outside of the mine site.
• Since 2003, Goldcorp has supported teacher training as a way to increase the number of children who can attend school in Guatemala. This has led to higher enrollment and attendance numbers, boosting enrollment up to 71% in some communities. 

Environmental Initiatives

The Marlin Mine is implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) designed to promote continuous improvement in the environmental management of the operation. The EMS concentrates on four phases: policy and planning, implementation, evaluation, and review and Improvement.

 Reforestation

The Marlin mine reforestation campaign is part of the Forestry Management Plan approved by the Guatemalan Instituto Nacional de Bosques (National Institute of Forests; INAB). Reforestation was described in this Plan as compensation for the direct impact of tree cutting within the mine area footprint. The compensation requirement was to reforest 190 ha which was completed during the first two years of the reforestation campaign (2004 and 2005). Marlin has continued reforesting between 10 and 20 ha annually beyond the INAB requirements.

While reforestation is a requirement under Guatemalan law, the Incentivos Forestales (Forest Incentives) program is a voluntary program initiated by Marlin to ensure that planted trees reach maturity. Under this program, private landowners are paid incentives for planting and caring for trees. The incentives are paid for five years. In addition to cash incentives, participating landowners receive technical assistance from the company for ground preparation, fertilizing, pest control and other ongoing tree care services for the first five years. After that period the landowner is responsible for the care of the trees and may manage them for potential benefit (i.e. managed harvesting for firewood).

2009 was the sixth reforestation year with 7.68  hectares being reforested. During 2009 Marlin paid private landowners Q.82,566.00 ($10,320) in forestry incentives. Since the inception of the Forest Incentives program, Marlin has paid over Q. 874,221 ($109,277) to a total of 135 families for planting and caring for trees on their land.

Unedited W5 Interview

W5 Interview, Part I

W5 Interview, Part II