Understanding the impacts of mining on ecosystem services through a systematic review

Robyn Boldy; Talitha Santini; Mark Annandale; Peter D Erskine; Laura J Sonter

doi:10.1016/j.exis.2020.12.005

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Understanding the impacts of mining on ecosystem services through a systematic review

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Understanding the impacts of mining on ecosystem services through a systematic review

Robyn Boldy, Talitha Santini, Mark Annandale, Peter D Erskine and Laura J Sonter

The Extractive Industries and Society, Vol.8(1), pp.457-466

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.12.005

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Abstract

Mining

Wellbeing

Ecosystem services

Ecosystem-based management

Ecoservices

Systematic literature review

Mining activities can pose negative, sometimes irreversible damage to ecosystems, yet consequences for ecosystem services (ES) and their contribution to human wellbeing are more uncertain. Obtaining a clear understanding of where and how mining impacts ES and the methods used to show this is crucial for determining management approaches to overcome impacts. Here, we review the academic literature examining mining impacts to ES. We found only 60 papers assessed impacts to ES, with the majority focused on coal mining. Regulating services, such as carbon storage and erosion prevention, were most commonly assessed. We observed considerable variation in ES definitions and conceptualisations with no methodological consistency in ES assessments among studies. While we found negative impacts on ES were attributed to active mining operations and some positive impacts were related to restoration activities, our results also highlight major limitations to managing ES in mining regions. Assessing the full extent of impacts to ES from mining requires clear identification of changes in the ES chain – from biophysical supply to benefits and human wellbeing throughout the mining lifecycle. We propose a research agenda to address these knowledge gaps, which will help to improve pre- and post-mining ecosystem management for ES and human wellbeing.

Details

Title: Understanding the impacts of mining on ecosystem services through a systematic review
Authors: Robyn Boldy (Author) - The University of Queensland
Talitha Santini (Author) - The University of Queensland
Mark Annandale (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Peter D Erskine (Author) - The University of Queensland
Laura J Sonter (Author) - The University of Queensland
Publication details: The Extractive Industries and Society, Vol.8(1), pp.457-466
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.1016/j.exis.2020.12.005
ISSN: 2214-7918; 2214-790X
Grants: Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, RTP, Department of Education (Australia, Canberra)
Offsetting effects of development on biodiversity and ecosystem services, DE170100684, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; Forest Industries Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99514108602621
Output Type: Journal article