The green energy and digital transition will require more mining and new mines. Many of these new mines are likely to be situated in forested areas, including intact or otherwise ecologically valuable forests. This expansion poses a dual threat to forests – directly through land claims and mining-related impacts and indirectly through the influx of people drawn to mining areas. The consequences extend beyond deforestation, encompassing the loss of critical habitats, carbon sequestration capabilities, livelihoods dependent on forest resources, and the cultural significance embedded in these landscapes. To ensure a green and just transition, concerns over impacts to forests and linked human rights impacts must be under¬stood, prevented, mitigated, and managed throughout the mining cycle, and in particular during its early stages.
The Environmental Governance Programme (EGP) Forest and Mining Project, conducted between January and November 2023, aims to help strengthen the governance of mining / forest interactions in Zambia. The project included a broad appraisal of mineral, environmental and forest sector policy, law and institutional responsibilities and more detailed mapping of the mining and environmental permitting process, with a specific focus on aspects that are of importance from a forest conservation perspective. This review was, furthermore, underpinned by a satellite imagery study of deforestation and a literature study of forest values. Extensive stakeholder consultations were held to gather information, discuss policy measures and verify results.
The report provides a number of recommendations that can promote forest conservation during various stages of exploration and mining. The recommendations include areas like:
- Access to forest data
- Consideration of impacts on forests
- Integrating forest values in the permitting process
- Stakeholder consultations
- Raised capacity for forest monitoring and surveillance
- Turning policy aspirations into governance
The report will be used as a catalyst for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action both within and beyond EGP countries.
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