Post-2020 conservation priorities are threatened by global mining

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Abstract
The United Nations has committed to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. Despite this commitment, mining remains a major driver of biodiversity decline, particularly in conservation priority zones (CPZs) and areas with high species extinction risk. Regardless of growing awareness, the full extent of current and future mining threats to biodiversity remains inadequately quantified, limiting effective global conservation strategies. Here, we quantify the threats of 145,000 km² of current mining land to biodiversity. We find that 34% (49,000 km²) of these mining areas overlap with CPZs, intersecting the ranges of more than 2,300 species, including many classified as threatened. These threats span 14 biomes, with disproportionately high relative impacts in fragile ecosystems such as Mangroves and the Mediterranean. Furthermore, an additional 43% (12 million km²), 29% (2 million km²), and 37% (4 million km²) of land potentially exploitable for metals, non-metals, and coal, respectively, overlap with CPZs, highlighting the heightened risks from future mining expansion without consideration for biodiversity. Our findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders, guiding conservation efforts to mitigate biodiversity loss and align mining practices with global conservation goals, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Funding Information
  • Naturalis Biodiversity Center
  • European Commission (101135476)
  • European Commission (101135476)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (VI.Veni.222.141)
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (19920 VI.Veni.232.094)

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