🌱 How does mining cause deforestation?
Open-pit or opencast mining is the most common method for mining globally. Along with other types of mining, it can cause deforestation, habitat loss, and the loss of biodiversity.[i] This type of mining often results in large-scale land destruction.[ii] One example of this is the Escondida copper mine in the Atacama Desert in Chile, which is about 18 km long in the north-south direction and 3 km in the east-west direction.[iii] Through opencast mining, the terrain is permanently altered and hydrological conditions change. In some cases, water and soil can be polluted and effect a much larger area than the actual mining area.[iv]
🌱 What is the size of the forest loss?
Mining also causes the construction of settlements and infrastructure, which results in more losses of forests. Since 2000, forest loss is especially significant in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, the US, Australia, Ghana, and Myanmar. In many of these countries, mining does not even stop the downgrading and downsizing of nature reserves or national parks. The downgrading and downsizing of protected land has impacted approximately 1300 million hectares (321 million acres). In Brazil alone, 219 mining claims extend into protected areas.[v]
🌱 How does mining impact rainforests?
Mineral extraction in tropical rainforests is on the rise. A major cause of this is the mining of gold and coal. In the last two decades alone, this has caused around 6877 square kilometers (4273 square miles) of forest loss – and this might increase further with the rising demand for critical minerals.[vi]
This post has been adapted from a newsletter written by Christine Nikander and Heidrun Kordholste-Nikander. The newsletter titled “How can companies protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights by caring for forests?” was originally published in “The Just Transition Newsletter” by Palsa & Pulk.
[i] European Environment Agency: Biodiversity – Ecosystems, published on 18 Jun 2008, last modified 10 Feb 2020https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/intro (22.01.2024)
[ii] Yuan Gao, Jinman Wang, Nin Zhang, Sijia Li: Measurement and prediction of land use conflict in an opencast mining area. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301420721000167 (25.04.2024)
[iii] Lind, Veronica: Heap Leaching: Is it something that could be an alternative to conventional gold extraction? https://www.samso.com.au/post/heap-leaching-is-it-something-that-could-be-an-alternative-to-conventional-gold-extraction-insights (05.11.2024)
[iv] Yuan Gao, Jinman Wang, Nin Zhang, Sijia Li: Measurement and prediction of land use conflict in an opencast mining area. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301420721000167 (25.04.2024)
[v] Radwin, Maxwwell: Mongabay News & inspiration from nature’s frontline; Mining may contribute to deforestation more than previously thought, report says. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/04/mining-may-contribute-to-deforestation-more-than-previously-thought-report-says/ (20.04.2024)
[vi] Radwin, Maxwwell: Mongabay News & inspiration from nature’s frontline; Mining may contribute to deforestation more than previously thought, report says. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/04/mining-may-contribute-to-deforestation-more-than-previously-thought-report-says/ (20.04.2024)