Modern Mining July 2024

Under some circumstances, mining can clearly serve conservation ends. Of course, mining should not occur at all in ecologically sensitive areas like the Okavango Delta in Botswana or the Nyerere National Park (formerly the Selous Game Reserve) in Tanzania. These are both World Heritage Sites and should simply be off limits. However, where possible, mine closure plans should seriously consider how mining might contribute to inclusive and sustainable conservation. 

they’ve already built five-star tourism lodges that will sustain nature conservation after the mine has died. The concession area will then be connected to the nearest national park, which will create one of the largest contiguous conservation areas in Zambia. In the meantime, they’ve also developed a sawmill worth $2million that produces furniture. Forests are genuinely given to ‘sustainable use’, unlike slow-growing animals like elephants. We clearly don’t need to take a ‘consumptive use’ view to generate the wealth required for conservation. Ironically, mining – if done well and with some foresight – can often serve conservation ends by establishing models that do not rely on extracting wildlife for cash. Extract the ore body under the ground and use some of that cash to build contiguous wild landscapes. Once the mine has been depleted, the area can be restored. But it really does require planning informed by a workable vision. There are too few Kalumbilas around and there’s no good reason why there shouldn’t be more.

Extract the ore body under the ground and use some of that cash to build contiguous wild landscapes.

Sentinel Mine, owned and run by First Quantum Minerals (FQM), in Zambia.

JULY 2024 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za  MODERN MINING  39