The purpose of the assessment protocol is to provide guidance to facilities in completing their evaluation of biodiversity conservation management against TSM indicators. The assessment protocol sets out the general expectations for biodiversity conservation management as part of the TSM initiative. This protocol supports implementation of the TSM Mining and Biodiversity Conservation Framework.
As with any assessment of a management system, professional judgment is required in assessing the degree of implementation of a system indicator and the quality of management processes and intervention. Application of this protocol will therefore require a level of expertise in auditing and systems assessment and knowledge of and experience in the practice of biodiversity conservation management, including relevant regulatory regimes and requirements. This assessment protocol provides an indicator of the level of implementation of biodiversity conservation management as part of the TSM initiative. It is not, of itself, a guarantee of the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation management activities.