INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018

FLORA AND FAUNA Life on Land IGO has developed a progressive rehabilitation plan for all of its exploration disturbance In accordance with its Environmental Policy, IGO is committed to understanding and protecting the flora and fauna communities at each of its operations. Periodic surveys are employed to measure impacts to fauna, triggered by the different stages of a project or a proposed modification to an existing operation. Impact monitoring, a focus in FY19, is undertaken near our mining operations to understand the ongoing impact of mining activity. NOVA OPERATION The Nova Operation is within the Great Western Woodlands, an area of high biological richness that comprises almost 16 million hectares, extending from the edge of the wheatbelt and Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the north, to the inland deserts and the Nullarbor Plain to the east. The project is situated approximately 80km from the eastern edge of the Great Western Woodlands and the Nova Operation area represents 0.03% of its total area. A number of field surveys were conducted during the feasibility phase of the project to inform the approval process and assist with protecting the flora and fauna within the operation footprint. A total of 45 vegetation communities were mapped in the study area, comprising 28 eucalypt woodland communities, 13 mixed shrublands and scrub communities and four hummock grasslands communities. A total of 142 vertebrate fauna species, including 40 reptile, 82 bird and 20 mammal species, were recorded during the field surveys in the feasibility phase of the Nova Operation. TROPICANA OPERATION The Tropicana Operation, situated on the western edge of the Great Victoria Desert, consists of an active sand-ridge, with surrounding land dominated by sand plains, sand hills and sand dunes covered with Marble Gum ( Eucalyptus gongylocarpa ), Mallee ( Eucalyptus youngiana ) and Spinifex ( Triodia basedowii ). The Great Victoria Desert contains a number of protected reserves, including Plumridge Lakes Nature Reserve and Queen Victoria Spring Nature Reserve. Tropicana has implemented a Threatened Species Management Strategy to identify potential risks and mitigate any impacts on threatened species. The sand plain communities surrounding the Tropicana Operation have an extremely high diversity of small-vertebrates, with more species of terrestrial reptiles and mammals per hectare than anywhere else in Western Australia. Monitoring vegetation condition and abundance is required on an annual basis at Tropicana in accordance with the mine’s approval conditions. Tropicana Operation also completes an extensive fauna monitoring program and supports regional fauna research. The results are reported in the Tropicana Operation Annual 72 — IGO SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018

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