Organizations urge exclusion of mining from protected areas

More than 80 organizations focused on conservation, indigenous peoples' rights, and civil society have urged governments at the United Nations biodiversity summit in Armenia to exclude mining, oil, and gas activities from protected areas. The groups issued a joint letter on October 22, emphasizing that conservation goals would not be met if industrial activities continue to threaten these regions.

Conservation targets questioned

The letter warns that achieving numerical conservation targets would be ineffective if protected areas remain vulnerable to industrial activities that threaten biodiversity. This concern comes as many countries, including those in Africa, seek to balance economic development through mining, energy production, and infrastructure with the need to protect critical ecosystems.

Report highlights overlap of industries and protected areas

A report published on October 8 by Earth Insight and its partners found that nearly 62 million hectares (153 million acres) of protected and conserved areas in tropical countries overlap with oil and gas blocks. Additionally, mining concessions overlap 43 million hectares (106 million acres), indicating a significant conflict between conservation and industrial development.

Concessions do not always mean exploitation

The report notes that the presence of a concession does not necessarily mean exploitation has begun. This distinction is important, as it highlights that while there is potential for industrial activity, actual development may not have occurred in these overlapping areas.

Biodiversity gaps in protected areas

The report also revealed that 29 percent of key terrestrial biodiversity areas in the Congo basin are located outside protected areas. This finding raises questions about the effectiveness of current conservation efforts in covering all critical ecosystems, especially in regions with high biodiversity.