The partnership, called ‘Growing Together', aims to return mined land to agricultural use and support the re-establishment of native plant species using the latest reclamation methods.

It commenced with employees from both companies working together to plant more than 4,000 trees at Dawson mine in March. They were joined by around 40 students from Moura and Banana State schools and traditional owners from the Gangulu Nation. Together, they demonstrated sustainable mining practices in action, planting various native eucalyptus species across a 90ha site where mining activities have ceased.

Tyler Mitchelson, CEO of Anglo American's metallurgical coal business, said that the project was a great example of like-minded companies coming together to support sustainable mining practices in the region.

"Collaboration across our industry and the communities where we operate is a powerful way to achieve improved sustainability outcomes in the local area," he said. "We're committed to the highest standards of environmental performance, and this new partnership with Komatsu adds to our existing A$162 million [US$102.3 million] rehabilitation investment across our five central Queensland mine sites.

"More than A$80 million will be spent on rehabilitation at Dawson mine over five years (2019 - 2023), which has been leading the way in innovative rehabilitation approaches.

"We were very pleased to welcome students from Moura and Banana state schools to Dawson mine, to help share information about native plants, mine rehabilitation and have them join in with our tree planting event. Schools were also given free plants to take back and plant, so we look forward to seeing more native trees growing across the region.

"A key pillar of our global Sustainable Mining Plan is ‘healthy environment' and this partnership demonstrates our commitment to innovative and sustainable environmental practices."

The planting included a pilot of biodegradable Cocoon planting technology, which reduces the need for irrigation to help drought-proof the newly planted trees. The Cocoon pods require 100 times less water than traditional methods and can support a young plant through its critical first year with an accessible reservoir of water and moisture.

Jeffrey Dawes, president and CEO of Komatsu Mining, said that the new partnership is a continuation of Komatsu's Growing Forward signature environmental initiative, the reforestation of formerly mined lands, which was launched on Earth Day 2019 to advance the company's commitment to a sustainable future for all.

"We believe that maintaining high environmental standards is more than a good business practice - it is a fundamental responsibility owed to our employees, customers, communities and the environment we all share," he said.

"We are proud to be working together with Anglo American and members of the local community as we expand our global focus on reforestation of formerly mined lands."

The ‘Growing Together' partnership continues Komatsu's existing reforestation efforts with Green Forests Work (GFW), a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting proper mine reclamation methods and the restoration of natural habitats, including national forests.

As part of those efforts, Komatsu is committed to reforesting 1,000 acres (405ha) of land and native ecosystems in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, US. By the end of 2020, that project will have enabled the planting of more than 150,000 trees and creation of more than 100 wetlands to support natural wildlife habitats.

"Through the efforts of many, we can accomplish so much more than we would working alone," Dawes said.

"It's an honour to be partnering with Anglo American, who are global leaders in sustainable mining, to increase the use of advanced mine rehabilitation methods and complete the cycle - bringing the land back to its original use following the extraction of essential minerals needed to grow modern society."

The ‘Growing Together' project is being undertaken in coordination with environmental consultants from Australian firm EMM, and support from Anglo American's rehabilitation contractor, Moorvale Earthmoving.