1. Mining and Biodiversity Conservation Presentation to ABCG Meeting Marta Miranda, WRI

2. Potential Environmental Impacts Water pollution Tailings management –Tailings impoundments (risk of spills) –Dumping waste in rivers and oceans Chemical reactions –Cyanide (used in gold mining) –Acid mine drainage and heavy metals –Mercury

3. Potential Environmental Impacts Water quantity/ stream hydrology Lowering of water table (arid environments) Changing morphology of streams Deforestation/ habitat destruction Road-building (increased access) Loss of wetlands (clearing or pollution) Increase in hunting

4. Uncertain Outcomes Difficult to predict environmental impacts Some natural processes poorly understood Some technologies/responses are still largely experimental Need for precautionary principle

5. Governance Issues Lack of basic regulatory framework –Lack of environmental regulations specific for mining –Reclamation bonds –Minimum reclamation standards Developing countries lack basic governance –Transparency –Ability to adequately monitor

6. Evaluating Where to Mine Current approaches to defining “no go” IUCN’s Amman resolution Company-specific dialogues OPIC/ financial institutions

7. How to Define “No Go” Biodiversity hotspots? Ecoregions? Protected areas? Impacts on community livelihoods? Urgent need for criteria for private sector/ financial institutions