The Mining and Mineral industry: Test your knowledge

The Swedish mining and minerals industry’s target is by 2030 to contribute to a biodiversity net gain in all regions where mining and minerals operations and prospecting take place. This means that the industry will be investing further in developing innovative solutions for achieving sustainable land use in harmony with nature.

In most cases, a net-positive contribution to biodiversity is achieved by following the first three steps of the mitigation hierarchy and then offset for the remaining damage. The offsetting should be done with excess relative to the impact, to contribute to more biodiversity than what was lost.

Within mining areas and quarries, there may be favorable environments that are otherwise uncommon in the landscape. Those active in these areas can benefit plant and animal life by preserving and enhancing such environments, for example, by planning restoration measures with biodiversity in focus or creating temporary habitats, such as cliff ledges for birds of prey.

The mitigation hierarchy involves an approach that primarily aims to avoid impacting and harming biodiversity. The second step involves minimising, and the third step involves restoring. The fourth step, offset, is done only as a last resort after the preceding steps have been followed.

The roadmap Mining with Nature was developed as a response to the ongoing biodiversity crisis. The mining and mineral industry wants to take responsibility as major land exploiters by contributing positively to biodiversity. At the same time, working with biodiversity questions brings several positive effects for the business, such as increased community support, improved regulatory trust, and ways to meet the environmental demands of customers and investors.