Around the Company in Pictures: Biodiversity Week

November 15, 2024 - Freeport sites recently went all out for Biodiversity Week, working to show that bats, bugs, and other often-misunderstood creatures deserve recognition beyond just spooky Halloween associations—they play vital roles in our ecosystems!

Biodiversity Week originally started out as part of Bat Week, an annual, international event meant to raise awareness about the importance of bats in the ecosystem and the need to help conserve them. The event has since grown in scope, with sites teaming up with local communities and schools to foster better understanding about the countless species that thrive around our operations.

This year, the sites involved included Bagdad, Morenci, Safford, Sierrita and Cyprus Tohono in Arizona. Events were targeted at all ages and ranged from educational booths to hands-on activities, like invasive species removal and creating seed balls. Several sites also took part in planting agave for bats, as agave plays a critical role along the migratory journey of nectar-feeding bat pollinators.

“We remain committed to engaging learners of all ages during Biodiversity Week,” said Ann George, Senior Scientist-Biodiversity and Sustainability. “As a responsible producer of copper, educating the next generation is a vital part of our mission to foster conservation literacy and help create a greener tomorrow.”

Photos (clockwise from top left):  Students in Morenci meet Benny the Bat and other mascots during Biodiversity Week; Abril Contreras (left), Operations Helper, and Kailynn Harris, Crush/Convey Operator Trainee, help remove invasive buffelgrass at Sierrita; a red tegu and other exotic species were shown off in Morenci; students look over a bug collection as part of Bagdad’s scavenger hunt; at Cyprus Tohono, students color pictures for part of a mural; Safford was one of several sites planting agave for migrating bats.