Biodiversity conservation to be integrated in mining

As the government continues to move toward a more responsible mining industry, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is crafting a new policy that will integrate biodiversity conservation and management into mining operations.

The MGB is consulting with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other government agencies in drafting a new policy that will integrate biodiversity protection and conservation in mining operations.

“Series of meetings and consultations are being spearheaded by the DENR. It is also planned that the said policy shall be subject to public consultations, prior to the signing of the DENR Secretary (Roy Cimatu),” MGB said.

The MGB’s Mine Safety Environment and Social Development Division and Mining Tenements Management Division are also providing technical support regarding environment protection and rehabilitation of mining, and mining tenements processing and approval.

Other agencies working on the policy include Biodiversity Management Bureau, Environment Management Bureau, Climate Change Service and Mining Concerns and Planning Policy Service, University of the PhilippinesMarine Sciences Institute, UP National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP-Los Banos College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Protect Wildlife, and BioFin of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, for its part, welcomed the idea and vowed to cooperate with the government on biodiversity integration.

Since last year, the DENR has been calling on the mining industry to integrate biodiversity conservation mining operations as the administration puts premium on the protection and preservation of the nation’s flora and fauna species and their habitats.

The Philippines has a total of 228 key biodiversity areas located in various regions which are home to 855 globally important species, including those freshly discovered.