A growing threat to protected areas from the mining industry.

There is increasing pressure on governments to permit mining activities in protected areas in many African countries.

Such developments are tempting for governments in many instances because of the potential to generate revenues and employment, and to stimulate much needed economic growth. However, mining has potential to impart severe environmental problems, particularly in protected areas.

Aside from the potential for habitat destruction and the spoiling of attractive scenery, mines have potential to result in significant pollution. In addition, in a number of cases in central Africa, the onset of mining (and arrival of a large workforce) in wild areas has resulted in major upsurges in poaching for bushmeat and other wildlife products.

In South Africa there are plans to develop an open cast coal mine in close proximity to one of its most renowned reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP). Land now encompassed by the park was the private hunting reserve of King Shaka, gaining formal conservation status in 1895. HiP was one of the last strongholds of the white rhino and played an essential role in saving that species from extinction.

While a coal mine might bring some development to the area, and there can be little doubt that such a development will be associated with substantial environmental impacts in one of South Africa’s most important wilderness areas.

There is a need for rigorous environmental impact assessments and public debate over such mining in or near protected areas – and there is a case for prohibiting such developments all together. Furthermore, the decision-making process regarding the development of mines in protected areas needs to be as transparent as possible to reduce potential for corruption influencing the outcome of decisions.

In general, there is a need for much greater focus pertaining to the issue of mining in or near to protected areas. From our perspective, we’d like to see protected areas spared from such developments, with a focus on long term and sustainable benefits from tourism and the environmental services from parks, rather than from the short term benefits associated with minerals.

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