The Amazon is not the only forest that humans are destroying massively
Deforestation is happening on a global scale
The massive destruction taking place in the Amazon forest is certainly the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about deforestation. But as a new study proves , it is not the only one. The study analyzed in detail every forest lost to mining operations in the tropics and estimated that from 2000 to 2019, more than 3,264 square kilometers of forest have been lost.
Satellite data shows that 4/5 of the deforestation is taking place in just 4 countries, Indonesia, Brazil, Ghana and Suriname. To our surprise, Indonesia is responsible for 58.2% of the deforestation caused by the expansion of mining activities.
There are a multitude of environmental impacts from mining operations beyond deforestation, including the destruction of entire ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, pollution of water sources, and the production of hazardous waste.
The study covered 26 countries, accounting for 76.7% of total deforestation due to mining in the tropics, for lignite, gold, iron, and bauxite. In 2/3 of these countries, environmental impacts go beyond the boundaries of the mines. Deforestation is taking place up to 50 kilometers away from the mines, due to transport infrastructure, warehouses and urban development.
The researchers note that the current political situation, especially in Brazil and Indonesia, makes it likely impossible to reduce these activities in the near future, while they note that some other tropical countries use practices for animal husbandry and palm oil production that cause more deforestation than mineral extraction.
Faced with the ever-increasing demand for minerals and specifically metals for renewable energy and e-mobility technologies, governments and industries must consider the direct and indirect impacts of mining. Addressing these impacts is an important tool for conserving tropical forests and protecting the resources of communities living in these forests.
The research was published in PNAS .
