FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
OCTOBER 19, 2022

FQM PROMOTES BIRDING AND CITIZEN SCIENCE

FQM Zambia participates in Global Big Day along with other FQM mine sites around the world

SOLWEZI, ZAMBIA – Global Big Day is an annual celebration of birds. It’s a day when birders around the world try to record as many species as they can over a 24-hour period.
In what has become known as “citizen science”, sightings are recorded on mobile phones through the popular e-bird application and uploaded to a global database, thereby contributing to our understanding of global bird distribution and changes to bird migration.
In recognition of this annual celebration of birds and in an effort to raise awareness, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) put a #FQMBirdingTeam together to take part in the event.
Bird-related activities were organised at FQM’s operating and closed sites and conservation areas in Zambia, Mauritania, Spain, Canada, Panama and Finland.
In preparation for the event, Trident invited local birding expert Frank Willems to provide a day of training on bird identification for all interested employees. The training day was a big success with a huge turnout. On the actual day, more than 20 people were out birding at Kansanshi, Trident and the nearby West Lunga Conservation Area. Just over 140 species were recorded.
Kalumbila District Council Chairperson Shadreck Munjunga was among those who graced the training event.
Meanwhile, in Spain, an educational bird ringing session was held with employees and their families. A number of species, some getting ready to migrate southwards were caught, ringed and released.
In Canada and Finland, where many migratory species had largely left and temperatures are dropping fast, walks were organised for employees.
In Panama, a number of freelance birding guides were invited to share their knowledge of birds and bird identification in and around the mine site, neighbouring communities and the FQM-supported conservation areas.
Across the FQM group, over 140 participants managed to identify 447 species during the day.
Commenting on what participating in this event meant for FQM employees and bird enthusiasts alike FQM’s Environmental Manager at Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila, Kachiwala Sapalo said: “Citizen science has brought me and a few colleagues together in appreciation of the environment we work in.”
First Quantum Minerals continues to invest in the protection and conservation of natural biodiversity in the areas of its operation. Last year, FQM restocked Ntambu Community Game Reserve in Chief Ntambu’s chiefdom with 178 animals from seven different species. The move was aimed at establishing conservation-based economies around the West Lunga Game Management Area while promoting sustainable management of wildlife and the natural environment. Since 2014, FQM has also worked in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature, to rehabilitate the West Lunga Game management area.

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About First Quantum Minerals Ltd
First Quantum Minerals Ltd is a global metals and mining company producing mainly copper, gold and zinc. The company’s assets are in Zambia, Spain, Mauritania, Australia, Finland, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Peru.
In 2021, First Quantum globally produced 816,435 tonnes of copper, 312,492 ounces of gold and 16,818 tonnes of nickel.
In Zambia it operates the Kansanshi mine and smelter in Solwezi and the Sentinel mine in Kalumbila.
The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
http://www.first-quantum.com/

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