Nature Positive Role of the Mining and Metals Sector

8% of known mining properties coincide with global IUCN Protected Areas.2.2 Land-use change and ecosystem disturbance Both upstream input industry activities (including from the energy, chemicals, timber and rubber sectors), mining operations (including exploration, construction, ore extraction and waste storage), and the development of supporting infrastructure for mines (including linear infrastructure such as pipelines, transport infrastructure and accommodation), can result in:108 –Land clearance and ecosystem fragmentation –Soil degradation, erosion and compaction, increasing flows of sediment into nearby rivers –An increase in non-natural fires and landslides, from the use of heavy machinery and explosives –Disruption or diversion of surface water regimes and groundwater systems –Introduction of non-native species from transport, including through shipping, rail and vehicle use These impacts can vary significantly by region, commodity, ore tonnage or grade, company size (LSM or ASM) and mine type. In particular, open pit mines result in notably greater land clearance and corresponding rehabilitation requirements than underground mines. Of global mining operations, 8% of known mining properties coincide with global IUCN Protected Areas, 7% with Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and 16% with Remaining Wilderness,109 and nearly a third of the world’s mine tailings are stored within or near protected conservation areas110. In particular, in forest ecosystems, mining is the fourth largest driver of direct deforestation111 and may already affect up to one-third of the world’s forest ecosystems when indirect impacts are taken into account.112 In total, 84% of global direct mining-related deforestation (MRD) in the past 20 years occurred in just 10 countries. Deforestation was most prevalent in Indonesia (accounting for 25% of global MRD) and Brazil (12%). Gold caused the highest direct deforestation between 2001 and 2019, followed by bauxite, iron ore and copper. As indicated in section 1.1, the area of influence of mining operations is generally larger than the direct physical footprint of projects due to both indirect and cumulative impacts. In particular, mining-associated infrastructure development can attract human populations, causing new threats or exacerbating pre-existing threats, such as overexploitation (e.g. hunting, fishing, logging), establishment of invasive or exotic species (e.g. through inadvertent introduction by humans), and habitat loss for other land uses (e.g. agricultural expansion and illegal mining).113,114,115 Mining can also violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the rights of local communities, for example, where mining expansion or processing affects areas of high ecological, cultural or community significance. Through the alteration of landscapes, mining can lead to fragmentation of lands that hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous Peoples. These landscapes are not merely economic resources but are integral to cultural identity, traditional knowledge systems and the transmission of spiritual practices. Fragmentation can disrupt sacred sites, ceremonial areas and traditional routes, undermining the cultural integrity and continuity of Indigenous communities. Disruptions to water systems caused by mining operations can also severely impact Indigenous Peoples who rely on them. Altered hydrological patterns can lead to the degradation of wetlands and river systems that are crucial for maintaining the health of entire ecosystems, impacting fish populations, wildlife and plant species that are central to Indigenous ways of life. These impacts can be more pronounced when local communities and rightsholders are not meaningfully engaged, when Indigenous Peoples’ rights to self- determination and FPIC are not respected, or when robust human rights due diligence activities are not undertaken to avoid causing or contributing to negative human rights impacts.  Building on existing practices, international principles and standards such as the Society for Ecological Restoration’s (SER) framework, launched in 2022, have emerged to strengthen rehabilitation and restoration approaches and improve outcomes in mining landscapes.116 However, collaboration between companies, governments and local communities is needed to ensure these standards are adopted and adhered to consistently. Nature Positive: Role of the Mining and Metals Sector 23