Minimize Our Environmental Footprint
Our exploration projects are often located in undisturbed environments with diverse ecology across Canada and Botswana. North Arrow recognizes the privilege and responsibility of working in these areas and is committed to minimizing our impact. We comply with all environmental laws and regulations in each jurisdiction where we operate, with a fundamental principle guiding our work: to leave these areas as we found them, or as close to it as possible.
When our exploration activities require disturbing an area—whether for rock sampling, drilling, trenching, till sampling, or soil sampling—we minimize our impact through careful planning of the program and the reclamation.
Leave No Trace Approach
North Arrow strictly adheres to the "what goes in must come out" rule across all our operations. This means:
- Zero tolerance for leaving garbage at work sites
- Thorough final cleaning and inspection at every work site
- Complete removal of all materials and equipment
- Full remediation of disturbed areas
- Comprehensive decommissioning of exploration camps when no longer needed
Our goal is to leave as little environmental footprint as possible, allowing nature to quickly reclaim any temporarily disturbed areas.
Respecting Biodiversity
Ensuring the preservation of ecosystems and species in our project areas is a high priority for North Arrow. We develop and implement mitigation plans designed to minimize disturbance to local biodiversity. Comprehensive knowledge of the areas where we work is essential to this approach.
North Arrow utilizes multiple information sources to develop this knowledge:
- Government resources regarding species at risk
- Regulatory bodies with ecosystem and species information
- Traditional knowledge from local communities and Indigenous groups
- Stakeholder consultations and community meetings
For more extensive programs with potential for increased environmental impact, North Arrow develops detailed wildlife and ecology mitigation plans. All work strictly follows regulatory conditions and seasonal restrictions included in our permits, ensuring we operate during times that minimize wildlife disturbance.
Local Employment and Training
North Arrow prioritizes hiring people from local communities—the land users and stakeholders most impacted by our exploration work. When feasible, we provide or support local education initiatives to deliver the necessary training for residents to qualify for exploration-related job opportunities. This approach creates economic benefits while ensuring our workforce has deep knowledge of the local environment.