Abstract
The need to address and reverse global biodiversity decline is imperative across all of society including the practices of mine closure planning. Nature Positive is the latest global biodiversity-focused initiative which calls for at least 30% of biodiversity to be enhanced through effective restoration relative to the 2020 baseline. This paper conceptualizes and explains what is necessary in mine closure planning and implementation to meaningfully contribute to this and other nature-positive goals, with some illustrative examples. Issues considered include application of the mitigation hierarchy, rehabilitation in mining and the time lag challenge for restoring biodiversity, biodiversity offsetting, conserving nature while meeting social needs, consideration of the indirect and induced impacts of mining, managing tradeoffs in decision-making processes and ensuring that nature positive benefits are long-lasting. The implications for mine closure planning are identified for each of these considerations. The paper ends with a conceptual framework that maps the nature positive challenges in relation to mine closure planning undertakings and call for action by practitioners and researchers alike to advance progress and practices.
Document Type
Journal Article
Funding Information
Foundation for the Technological Development of Engineering, São Paulo, Brazil (1686)
School
Centre for People, Place and Planet
RAS ID
82122
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Identifier
Angus Morrison-Saunders: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3560-0164
Comments
Sánchez, L. E., & Morrison-Saunders, A. (2025). Mine closure planning must face the challenge of a nature positive future. Research Directions Mine Closure and Transitions, 2. https://doi.org/10.1017/mcl.2025.1