ICMM publishes new guidance to help protect and restore biodiversity

According to the 2024 Living Planet Report, wildlife populations have seen a 73% average decline from 1970 through 2020, largely driven by climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, hunting, overfishing and other environmental impacts of food production. While the industry is dependent on the essential services provided by healthy ecosystems – such as reliable access to clean water, erosion prevention, and flood control – mining operations often intersect with areas of high biodiversity value and have also historically played a significant role in environmental degradation. Therefore, protecting and conserving nature is not just a responsibility – it is a business imperative.

ICMM’s Good Practice Guide for Achieving No Net Loss or Net Gain of Biodiversity outlines a seven-step process, applicable at each stage of the mining lifecycle from a project’s design to post-closure and production, to help companies establish baseline assessments, apply the mitigation hierarchy, and transparently disclose progress towards their no net loss, or net gain, goal. It is a technical resource designed for practitioners at site level and corporate professionals overseeing sustainability and biodiversity strategies to help scale and accelerate the implementation of these approaches across the industry.

ICMM’s guidance builds on decades of experience and lessons learned by members in rehabilitation, restoration, and no net loss strategies. By integrating real-world examples and global insights, the guidance can help mining and metals companies, regardless of their size, maturity level, or location, achieve no net loss or net gain of biodiversity.

Hayley Zipp, Director, Environment, ICMM, says:

“Nature and biodiversity loss are a critical global challenge, placing wellbeing and livelihoods of people, ecosystems, and our global economy at significant risk. Committing to achieve no net loss or net gain of biodiversity at mining and metals operations is essential for our industry to contribute to the global goal of halting and reversing nature loss.

“But we must go further. Building a nature-positive future requires multi-stakeholder collaboration, innovation, and accountability. That’s why our members have committed to taking nature action across the value chains, landscapes, and systems we operate in. We urge companies across the industry – and those managing significant land areas in other sectors – to take the lead in making commitments that help protect and restore nature for the benefit of all.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/25032025/icmm-publishes-new-guidance-to-help-protect-and-restore-biodiversity/