The Range of Environmental Concerns - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 548

FIGURE 13.13
Providing Access to Hard-to-reach
Areas

By providing access to previously iso-
lated wilderness areas the construction
of mining roads may enable exploita-
tion of biological resources in areas
where this was previously impossible.

competitive environments (Kelly 1998). Imported species (e.g. weedy plants and insect
pests) may thrive while native species decline (Ripley et al . 1996). Access to wilderness
areas may also result in increased hunting, logging and land development. The high rate
of clearing of rain forest in the Amazon region as well as parts of Southeast Asia is a prime
example of the negative consequences of such induced development.
Opponents of mining cite loss of biodiversity as one of the main reasons for their oppo-
sition. This section addresses the questions:
●

Does mining pose a risk to biodiversity? and

●

If so, how should the risk be minimized?

Loss of biodiversity is generally considered to be deleterious to the functioning of natural
ecosystems, with many adverse ramii cations to the Earth's inhabitants, including humans.
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) in 2003, adopted as one of its
principles '(to) contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and integrated approaches to land
use planning '. The ICMM has published a dei nitive report 'Good Practice Guidance for
Mining and Biodiversity' which is available through its website www.ICMM.com . The
report provides a detailed account of means for evaluating impacts on biodiversity, and
measures for minimizing such impacts, including the use of offsets.

Effects of Mining - Separating Fact from Fantasy

Mining has the potential to reduce biodiversity either directly, through activities which
remove, damage or modify habitats, or indirectly where changes caused by project activities
may create situations where species or their habitats can be damaged by activities other
than those directly associated with mining ( Table 13.1 ) . Examples of such indirect impacts