Mining for green minerals poses hidden biodiversity risks, study finds
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A new study mapping 70,000 mining sites worldwide found that extraction caused 16,268 km² of forest loss from 2001 to 2022, mostly in tropical rainforests. Green energy minerals like lithium show high biodiversity risks despite lower deforestation, highlighting a trade-off between decarbonization and habitat protection.
Global Mining Footprint
Researchers from Tohoku University and Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies used remote sensing and machine learning to create a global map of mined commodities. The study, published in Nature Communications, analyzed 20 commodities across approximately 70,000 sites. Mining caused 16,268 km² of forest loss between 2001 and 2022, an area comparable to Beijing.
Biodiversity vs. Deforestation
Gold and coal remain the largest drivers of deforestation, but green energy minerals like lithium show higher biodiversity risks per unit of forest loss. Lithium extraction in salt flats and wetlands can disrupt fragile ecosystems and endanger species with minimal visible deforestation. This contrast signals a shift from traditional large-scale deforestation to subtler ecological pressures.
Policy and Supply Chain Implications
The dataset allows governments to design commodity-specific environmental regulations and companies to assess supply chain risks. Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are critical for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. Demand for these materials is expected to rise, intensifying the need to balance decarbonization with biodiversity protection.
What's Next
The study's dataset is now available for policymakers and industry to integrate into environmental planning. It remains unclear how governments will reconcile growing mineral demand with biodiversity targets, especially in ecologically sensitive regions like the Amazon and Congo Basin.
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Mining for green minerals poses hidden biodiversity risks, study finds
