Miners urged to integrate biodiversity

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling on the mining industry to integrate biodiversity conservation and its mining operations to create a more responsible sector.

“Responsible mining companies should seek not merely to minimize and mitigate but to enhance the biodiversity in areas where they operate,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said following an international study, which led to the discovery of 56 new mammal species in Luzon.

Cimatu said the discovery is a big boost to the new mining policy direction of the Duterte administration, which puts premium on the protection and preservation of the nation’s flora and fauna species and their habitats.

“Integrating biodiversity conservation into their mining project cycle would surely help mining companies restore, possibly to near-original condition, mining-affected forests in the country,” Cimatu said.

He added that taking a proactive stance on biodiversity conservation efforts being implemented would serve well the mining sector in showing its sincerity in its response to the President’s call beyond the immediate host communities where they operate.

The environment chief emphasized that the mining sector will benefit in giving a positive image to the public as such move would amplify their efforts to reduce biodiversity loss and provides significant contributions to national and global conservation initiatives.

Furthermore, DENR-attached agency Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said the new findings should urge mining companies to adopt more responsible measures in their operations.

“We suggest that the mining sector take into account results of scientific studies that reveal significance of wildlife species in maintaining healthy ecosystems,” BMB director Mundita Lim said.

“We urge the mining industry to take this opportunity to take the center stage with us in striking a balance vis-à-vis mining. Our potentials are limitless if we can continue to conserve and sustainably manage our biodiversity, and at the same time, we are still able to pursue development of our extractive industries,” she added.