Publications

Mining is a significant driver of biodiversity loss, with impacts expected to escalate due to rising metal demand for the energy transition. However, global assessments of mining impacts are still in their infancy, as global biodiversity models overlook many relevant impact pathways. Here, we present a comprehensive synthesis of the biodiversity impact pathways of mining to inform the conservation and modelling community, as well as the policies and corporate actions to address these impacts.

Our review highlights pollution, primarily driven by the disposal of reactive waste materials, as the most diverse pathway, especially in freshwater ecosystems, where acid mine drainage, heavy metal contamination, and sedimentation result in significant ecological impairment. Mining-induced habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and hydrological disruptions further exacerbate biodiversity loss. To improve the representation of mining impacts in biodiversity models, we recommend incorporating pollution effects and refining the representation of physical habitat change effects. Future modelling efforts should also consider cumulative and interactive effects to ensure comprehensive impact estimation.

This work was initiated to better understand how to integrate mining impacts into the GLOBIO modelling suite. It will be followed up by modelling work to incorporate mining impacts on biodiversity in a consistent way across both Mean Species Abundance (MSA) and species-based indicators.