Mining threats in high‐level biodiversity conservation policies

• Published in: Conservation biology 2024-08, Vol.38 (4), p.e14261-n/a
• Main Authors: Torres, Aurora, zu Ermgassen, Sophus O. S. E., Navarro, Laetitia M., Ferri‐Yanez, Francisco, Teixeira, Fernanda Z., Wittkopp, Constanze, Rosa, Isabel M. D., Liu, Jianguo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aichi biodiversity targets; Arena; Biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; caliza; cement; cemento; concrete; Conservation; Construction; Construction industry; Ecosystem services; ecosystems; endangered species; Environmental policy; especies en peligro; extractive industries; impact mitigation; industrias extractivas; Infrastructure; Limestone; metas Aichi parala biodiversidad; Minerals; Mining; mitigación de impacto; Monitoring systems; Policies; política ambiental; sand; wildlife management
• ISSN: 0888-8892; 1523-1739; 1523-1739
• DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14261

Amid a global infrastructure boom, there is increasing recognition of the ecological impacts of the extraction and consumption of construction minerals, mainly processed as concrete, including significant and expanding threats to global biodiversity. We investigated how high‐level national and international biodiversity conservation policies address mining threats, with a special focus on construction minerals. We conducted a review and quantified the degree to which threats from mining these minerals are addressed in biodiversity goals and targets under the 2011–2020 and post‐2020 biodiversity strategies, national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and the assessments of the Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Mining appeared rarely in national targets but more frequently in national strategies. Yet, in most countries, it was superficially addressed. Coverage of aggregates mining was greater than coverage of limestone mining. We outline 8 key components, tailored for a wide range of actors, to effectively mainstream biodiversity conservation into the extractive, infrastructure, and construction sectors. Actions include improving reporting and monitoring systems, enhancing the evidence base around mining impacts on biodiversity, and modifying the behavior of financial agents and businesses. Implementing these measures could pave the way for a more sustainable approach to construction mineral use and safeguard biodiversity. Amenazas de la minería a las políticas de alto nivel para la conservación de la biodiversidad Resumen Enmedio del auge global del desarrollo de infraestructura, hay un mayor reconocimiento de los impactos ecológicos de la extracción y consumo de materiales para construcción, procesados predominantemente como concreto. Estos materiales representan amenazas significativas y en expansión para la biodiversidad global. Investigamos cómo son abordadas las amenazas de la minería por las políticas nacionales e internacionales de alto nivel para la conservación de la biodiversidad, con enfoque especial en los minerales para construcción. Realizamos una revisión exhaustiva y cuantificamos el grado en el cual son abordadas las amenazas de la extracción de estos minerales en los objetivos y metas para la biodiversidad bajo estrategias 2011‐2020 y post 2020, las estrategias y planes de acción nacionales para la biodiversidad, y las evaluaciones de la Plataforma Intergubernamental Científico‐normati