1
|
Junker J, Quoss L, Valdez J, Arandjelovic M, Barrie A, Campbell G, Heinicke S, Humle T, Kouakou CY, Kühl HS, Ordaz-Németh I, Pereira HM, Rainer H, Refisch J, Sonter L, Sop T. Threat of mining to African great apes. Sci Adv 2024; 10:eadl0335. [PMID: 38569032 PMCID: PMC10990274 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The rapid growth of clean energy technologies is driving a rising demand for critical minerals. In 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), seven major economies formed an alliance to enhance the sustainability of mining these essential decarbonization minerals. However, there is a scarcity of studies assessing the threat of mining to global biodiversity. By integrating a global mining dataset with great ape density distribution, we estimated the number of African great apes that spatially coincided with industrial mining projects. We show that up to one-third of Africa's great ape population faces mining-related risks. In West Africa in particular, numerous mining areas overlap with fragmented ape habitats, often in high-density ape regions. For 97% of mining areas, no ape survey data are available, underscoring the importance of increased accessibility to environmental data within the mining sector to facilitate research into the complex interactions between mining, climate, biodiversity, and sustainability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Junker
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Re:wild, 500 N Capital of Texas Hwy Building 1, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78746, USA
| | - Luise Quoss
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jose Valdez
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mimi Arandjelovic
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Abdulai Barrie
- Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, 55 Wilkinson Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Geneviève Campbell
- Re:wild, 500 N Capital of Texas Hwy Building 1, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78746, USA
| | - Stefanie Heinicke
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tatyana Humle
- Re:wild, 500 N Capital of Texas Hwy Building 1, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78746, USA
- Durrell of Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK
| | - Célestin Y. Kouakou
- Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS), 17 Rte de Dabou, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Hjalmar S. Kühl
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany
- International Institute Zittau, Technische Universität Dresden, Markt 23, 02763 Zittau, Germany
| | - Isabel Ordaz-Németh
- Re:wild, 500 N Capital of Texas Hwy Building 1, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78746, USA
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany
| | - Henrique M. Pereira
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Helga Rainer
- Independent consultant, PO Box 4107, 759125 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Johannes Refisch
- Great Apes Survival Partnership, United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30552, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Laura Sonter
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
| | - Tenekwetche Sop
- Re:wild, 500 N Capital of Texas Hwy Building 1, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78746, USA
- Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz, Am Museum 1, 02826 Görlitz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Werner TT, Toumbourou T, Maus V, Lukas MC, Sonter LJ, Muhdar M, Runting RK, Bebbington A. Patterns of infringement, risk, and impact driven by coal mining permits in Indonesia. Ambio 2024; 53:242-256. [PMID: 37889462 PMCID: PMC10774476 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01944-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Coal mining is known for its contributions to climate change, but its impacts on the environment and human lives near mine sites are less widely recognised. This study integrates remote sensing, GIS, stakeholder interviews and extensive review of provincial data and documents to identify patterns of infringement, risk and impact driven by coal mining expansion across East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Specifically, we map and analyse patterns of mining concessions, land clearing, water cover, human settlement, and safety risks, and link them with mining governance and regulatory infractions related to coal mining permits. We show that excessive, improper permit granting and insufficient monitoring and oversight have led to deforestation, widespread overlaps of concessions with settlements, extensive boundary and regulatory violations, lacking reclamation, and numerous deaths. As the world's largest thermal coal exporter, Indonesia's elevated coal infringements, risks, and impacts translate to supply chain, sustainability, and human rights concerns for global coal markets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tim T Werner
- School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Tessa Toumbourou
- School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Victor Maus
- Institute for Ecological Economics, Vienna University of economics and Business (WU), Welthandelsplatz 1, 1020, Vienna, Austria
- Advancing Systems Analysis Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Martin C Lukas
- Department of Geography, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Laura J Sonter
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Muhamad Muhdar
- Faculty of Law, Universitas Mulawarman, Jalan Sambaliung no. 1, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia
| | - Rebecca K Runting
- School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony Bebbington
- Graduate School of Geography, Clark University, 950 Main St, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rios CO, Pimentel PA, Bicalho EM, Garcia QS, Pereira EG. Photochemical attributes determine the responses of plant species from different functional groups of ferruginous outcrops when grown in iron mining substrates. Funct Plant Biol 2024; 51:FP23207. [PMID: 38163648 DOI: 10.1071/fp23207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Environments originating from banded iron formations, such as the canga , are important reference ecosystems for the recovery of degraded areas by mining. The objective of this work was to evaluate if the relationship between morphofunctional and photosynthetic attributes of native canga species from different functional group results in distinct responses when grown in iron mining tailings substrate. The experiment was carried out with species belonging to different functional groups: a widespread semi-deciduous tree-shrub, Myrcia splendens ; an endemic deciduous shrub, Jacaranda caroba ; and a nitrogen-fixing herbaceous species, Periandra mediterranea . The species were grown in two conditions, reference soil and iron ore tailing. Despite belonging to different functional groups when grown in tailings, the morphofunctional attributes presented similar responses between species. M. splendens was the species most affected by the conditions imposed by the iron ore mining tailings, with decreased light-use efficiency and electron transport. P. mediterranea had satisfactory growth and maintenance of photosynthetic attributes. J. caroba growing in the tailings increased the effective quantum yield of PSII. The photochemical and growth assessments were able to better explain the adaptive strategies developed by the species, guaranteeing a greater chance of success during the rehabilitation of mining substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Oliveira Rios
- Graduate program in Plant Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paulo Antônio Pimentel
- Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Campus Florestal, Florestal, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elisa Monteze Bicalho
- Plant Growth and Development Laboratory, Plant Physiology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), University Campus, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Queila Souza Garcia
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Gusmão Pereira
- Institute of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Campus Florestal, Florestal, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yang G, Su C, Zhang H, Zhang X, Liu Y. Tree-level landscape transitions and changes in carbon storage throughout the mine life cycle. Sci Total Environ 2023; 905:166896. [PMID: 37717743 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Opencast mining activities destroy native vegetation, directly impacting the carbon sequestration capacity of the regional ecosystem. Restoring tree species have significant impacts on carbon storage. However, changes in carbon storage across tree-level landscape and the impact of tree-level landscape transitions on carbon storage remain poorly described in the literature, and this information is urgently needed to support management decisions. In this study, we combined field data and remote sensing techniques to create field data-driven maps of the tree-level landscape. This enabled the assessment of carbon storage and quantification of the impact of tree-level landscape transitions on carbon storage. We founded that carbon storage rises in initial/stable stages, decreases in development stage during mining expansion and reclamation. The choice of restoration tree species significantly influenced carbon storage. Pinus tabuliformis-R. pseudoacacia accumulated more carbon storage, making it a more suitable model for ecological reclamation of Pingshuo opencast mine. Furthermore, changes in carbon storage are influenced by land-use policies. Land-use policies and reclamation efforts counterbalance carbon loss associated with construction. Various tree-level landscape transitions were examined, with Pinus tabuliformis transitions notably affecting carbon storage, offering insights for ecological reclamation planning. Our research provides a reference for carbon storage assessment in opencast mining areas, enhances understanding of carbon storage changes in mining areas, assists in formulating ecological reclamation plans, and contributes to the "dual‑carbon" goals and climate change mitigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoting Yang
- Institute of loess plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Chao Su
- Institute of loess plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Institute of loess plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; College of Environment and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- College of Environment and Resource, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Institute of loess plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Landires I, Castillero I, Ramos I, Núñez-Samudio V. Mining threatens health of Panama's environment. Science 2023; 382:1007-1008. [PMID: 38033073 DOI: 10.1126/science.adm7959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Iván Landires
- Instituto de Ciencias Médicas, Las Tablas, Los Santos, Panama
| | - Irene Castillero
- Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Panama, Panama City, Panama, Panama
| | - Isaías Ramos
- Centro de Incidencia Ambiental de Panama (CIAM), Panama City, Panama, Panama
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Vélez-Henao JA, Pauliuk S. Material Requirements of Decent Living Standards. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:14206-14217. [PMID: 37696762 PMCID: PMC10537420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Decent living standards (DLS) provide a framework to estimate a practical threshold for the energy, GHG, and material consumption required to alleviate poverty. Currently, most research has focused on estimating the energy required to provide the DLS. However, no attempt has been made to estimate the material consumption needed to provide the DLS. Thus, we ask the following questions: First, what is the amount of materials in stocks and flows needed to provide a DLS? Second, which lifestyle and technology choices are effective in providing a DLS without creating an excessive demand for additional materials? To provide a DLS, a material footprint (MF) of 6 t/(cap*yr) with a lower and upper bound between 3 and 14 t/(cap*yr) is required. The direct and indirect in-use stocks required are estimated at 32 t/cap and 11 t/cap, respectively. Nutrition (39%) and mobility (26%) contribute the most to total MF. Buildings account for 98% of direct stocks, while the construction sector accounts for 61% of indirect stocks. We extend the coverage of the DLS by including the collective service dimension and link the material stock-flow-service nexus and life cycle assessment to compute the MF and in-use stocks needed to provide the DLS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Andrés Vélez-Henao
- Faculty of Environment and
Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, 8 Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Pauliuk
- Faculty of Environment and
Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, 8 Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sonter LJ, Lloyd TJ, Kearney SG, Di Marco M, O'Bryan CJ, Valenta RK, Watson JEM. Conservation implications and opportunities of mining activities for terrestrial mammal habitat. Conservat Sci and Prac 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Sonter
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Thomas J. Lloyd
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Stephen G. Kearney
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies Sapienza Università di Roma Rome Italy
| | - Christopher J. O'Bryan
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Richard K. Valenta
- Sustainable Minerals Institute The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - James E. M. Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Morley J, Buchanan G, Mitchard ETA, Keane A. Quasi-experimental analysis of new mining developments as a driver of deforestation in Zambia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18252. [PMID: 36309592 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22762-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mining is a vital part of the global, and many national, economies. Mining also has the potential to drive extensive land cover change, including deforestation, with impacts reaching far from the mine itself. Understanding the amount of deforestation associated with mining is important for conservationists, governments, mining companies, and consumers, yet accurate quantification is rare. We applied statistical matching, a quasi-experimental methodology, along with Bayesian hierarchical generalized linear models to assess the impact on deforestation of new mining developments in Zambia from 2000 to present. Zambia is a globally significant producer of minerals and mining contributes ~ 10% of its gross domestic product and ~ 77% of its exports. Despite extensive deforestation in mining impacted land, we found no evidence that any of the 22 mines we analysed increased deforestation compared with matched control sites. The extent forest lost was therefore no different than would likely have happened without the mines being present due to other drivers of deforestation in Zambia. This suggests previous assessments based on correlative methodologies may overestimate the deforestation impact of mining. However, mining can have a range of impacts on society, biodiversity, and the local environment that are not captured by our analysis.
Collapse
|