Rancagua, February 11, 2026 - Codelco presented the results of the biodiversity management pilot developed together with the Chilean technology company Lemu, a pioneering initiative that integrates high-precision satellite images, artificial intelligence and applied science to strengthen the Corporation's environmental management in its areas of influence.

The project falls under a collaboration agreement signed in 2025 between Codelco and Lemu—a nature intelligence platform whose name means “forest” in Mapudungun—and also represents a milestone for national innovation, as it is the first time its system has been applied to large-scale mining. The pilot project with the state-owned company also utilized Lemu Nge, the world’s first satellite specifically dedicated to biodiversity measurement and the first privately owned Chilean satellite launched into orbit from the U.S. in 2024.

The work focused on two strategic sites: the Roblería del Cobre de Loncha National Reserve, located in the area of influence of the El Teniente Division and covering 5,870 hectares in central Chile; and the Campiche Wetland, covering 515 hectares, in the vicinity of the Ventanas Division. In the case of Roblería de Loncha, the LemuRank indicator—a global conservation priority index (0-100%) that identifies areas with high ecological value—yielded values between 53% and 89%, with an average of 71%, confirming its importance and the need to strengthen protection measures.

In addition, more than 65 species were identified, long-term improvements in vegetation density were observed, and an increase in carbon stock was found between 2001 and 2023, validating the area's role as a carbon sink and mitigator of climate change.

Closure at Hacienda Cauquenes

The project's closing milestone took place at the Cauquenes Estate, in the commune of Requínoa, and brought together authorities, academics, technical teams and executives of the Corporation.

“This alliance also reflects something we deeply value: Chile’s capacity to generate world-class innovation. Here we have science, entrepreneurship, and national talent put to the service of a global challenge: how to produce the minerals the world needs while protecting the environment with increasingly demanding standards,” said Codelco’s Chairman of the Board, Máximo Pacheco, at the ceremony.

The event included welcoming remarks from the General Manager of the El Teniente Division, Claudio Sougarret; a technical presentation on the pilot project by representatives from Codelco and Lemu; an explanation of the satellite's operation using a prototype installed on-site; and the presence of the Acting Minister of the Environment, Maximiliano Proaño. The event concluded with a photographic tour of a display of satellite images showcasing the biogeography of the area surrounding El Teniente.

“When a strategic public company moves towards a positive environmental vision, it not only strengthens its environmental management but also contributes directly to achieving the country's environmental objectives and more sustainable development. This pilot project also comes at a particularly relevant time: just a few days ago, the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service began operations, which will strengthen the management and monitoring of ecosystems nationwide. Initiatives like Atlas-LEMU align with this vision by enabling better decision-making based on verifiable and robust information,” said Acting Minister of the Environment, Maximiliano Proaño.

For his part, Claudio Sougarret, general manager of the El Teniente Division, highlighted the project's importance due to its potential impact on the present and future: “This tool helps us better manage and care for the division's significant forest assets in the Metropolitan and O'Higgins regions, which comprise more than 40,000 hectares. Protecting them is a legacy for future generations and aligns with our objective of generating social and environmental value, in addition to economic value.”

Nature and Biodiversity Strategy

With more than 60 initiatives deployed in the four regions where it operates, Codelco began implementing its Nature and Biodiversity Strategy in 2025, which aims to stop the loss of ecosystems and generate a net gain in biodiversity, under a vision of “nature positive”.

Within this framework, the roadmap is materialized in concrete projects, such as support for the El Loa Biodiversity and Conservation Center in Calama and the rescue of the Loa Frog —a critically endangered species—; the creation of a tree barrier together with the San Francisco de Chiu-Chiu Indigenous Community to improve the air quality of the locality; and the ecological restoration programs of the Campiche Wetland, in addition to agreements with the University of O'Higgins and CONAF for the protection of Mediterranean ecosystems in the areas of influence of the El Teniente Division, among other actions.

Codelco