Miners are cutting down forests to meet the huge demand for metals and minerals, the report said

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Whether it’s mining for metals and minerals for cellphones and electric cars or coal for power generation, mining around the world has increased since 2000, causing the destruction of tropical forests, harming the environment and displacing indigenous and local communities. , the World Resources Institute said in a report released on Wednesday.

The analysis highlighted that from 2001 to 2020, land lost approximately 1.4 million hectares (3,459,475 hectares) to mining _ an area roughly the size of the country of Montenegro. About a third were in the tropics. Protected areas are also damaged.

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This tree loss released 36 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year into the atmosphere, an amount equal to Finland’s fossil fuel emissions in 2022, according to the analysis.

Those figures are likely unchanged since they do not include indirect tree loss from mining-related infrastructure such as roads and storage facilities, said a report by the World Resources Institute, a global non-profit organization that researches environmental issues.

Mining-related losses in primary tropical rainforests are particularly concerning because they are some of the most carbon-rich and biodiverse areas in the world. They also help control local and regional weather effects such as rainfall and temperature.

Mining often involves digging up vegetation and soil, reinforcing disasters from extreme weather and climate change. It can also pollute the air and water.

“When industrial-scale mining is happening around the world right now … it’s taking a toll on the environment and the communities that depend on it,” said Aimee Boulanger, executive director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance.

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The losses were concentrated in eleven countries, led by Indonesia and Brazil. Other notable participants include Russia, the United States, Canada, Peru, Ghana, Suriname, Myanmar, Australia, and Guyana.

Lands used by indigenous and local communities are the most affected in some countries: In Suriname, Venezuela and Ecuador, almost two-thirds of the forest loss related to mining occurs in such areas, according to the analysis.

Gold and coal have historically been the leading drivers of tree cover loss related to mining. According to research by the World Wildlife Fund, gold and coal mining accounted for more than 70% of all mining-related deforestation from 2001 to 2019.

Although coal use is declining, it still dominates the world’s energy mix. According to a WWF study, 57% of the loss of tree cover linked to coal mining from 2000 to 2019 occurred in Indonesia alone. Coal production in Indonesia has grown rapidly over the past 10 years as it has become one of the largest coal producers in the world.

Deforestation for coal production is not just a tropical problem: A WWF study showed that 20% of coal-related tree cover loss occurred in the United States between 2001 and 2019. From 2001 to 2020, 120,000 hectares (296,525 acres) of forest were lost. it was mining-related, most of it connected with coal mines in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.

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The current boom in gold mining began shortly after the global financial crisis in 2008, when the price of gold skyrocketed. The loss of trees in Brazil and Ghana is largely related to gold mining.

Smartphones, solar panels and electric vehicles have also become a new driver of mining, according to the analysis. That includes deforestation for Indonesia’s nickel boom, Myanmar’s murky rare earths industry and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The WRI analysis noted that miners have the opportunity to improve and reduce environmental damage as they open new mines.

That should include mines that incorporate the best available technology, rehabilitation programs and strict environmental monitoring, said Michael Goodsite, an expert on sustainable mining practices and technology.

“There is a dilemma: How do we get the minerals we need without harming the environment?” Goodsite said. “It takes a holistic understanding, perspective and systematic approach.” _____

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