Cumulative effects of habitat fragmentation in mining regions

• Grant number: 18/12475-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mining Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Luis Enrique Sánchez
• Grantee: Luis Enrique Sánchez
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Juliana Siqueira Gay ; Laura Jane Sonter

Abstract

Mining impacts native vegetation, both within areas leased for mineral extraction and throughout surrounding landscapes for infrastructure development. These cumulative impacts affect biodiversity through habitat removal, with negative consequences sometime extending hundreds of kilometers from mining lease boundaries. Mining also fragments natural landscapes, which further degrades surrounding habitats. Very little is known about the impacts of mining on habitat fragmentation yet mitigating negative consequences for biodiversity is extremely important in regions of intact primary forest, where new mines require infrastructure for mineral processing and transportation. Therefore, we propose to investigate processes of habitat fragmentation in a region important for both biodiversity conservation and mineral extraction: "Reserva Nacional de Cobre e Associados" (Renca). Specifically, we aim to quantify historic deforestation caused by mining and other land uses within 100 km of the Renca boundary and use this information to calibrate a spatially-explicit land use change model to simulate consequences of alternative development and regulatory scenarios on habitat fragmentation. Our results will provide novel insights into the cumulative impacts of mining on biodiversity and thus inform both government and private decisions around future proposals to permit mining within biodiverse areas. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SIQUEIRA-GAY, JULIANA; SONTER, LAURA J.; SANCHEZ, LUIS E.. Exploring potential impacts of mining on forest loss and fragmentation within a biodiverse region of Brazil's northeastern Amazon. RESOURCES POLICY, v. 67, AUG 2020. (18/12475-7)

SIQUEIRA-GAY, JULIANA; SOARES-FILHO, BRITALDO; SANCHEZ, LUIS E.; OVIEDO, ANTONIO; SONTER, LAURA J.. Proposed Legislation to Mine Brazil's Indigenous Lands Will Threaten Amazon Forests and Their Valuable Ecosystem Services. ONE EARTH, v. 3, n. 3, p. 356-362, SEP 18 2020. (18/12475-7)

SIQUEIRA-GAY, JULIANA; SANCHEZ, LUIS E.. The outbreak of illegal gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon boosts deforestation. Regional Environmental Change, v. 21, n. 2, JUN 2021. (18/12475-7)

SIQUEIRA-GAY, JULIANA; SANTOS, DIOGO; NASCIMENTO JR, WILSON R.; SOUZA-FILHO, PEDRO WALFIR M.; SANCHEZ, LUIS ENRIQUE. nvestigating Changes Driving Cumulative Impacts on Native Vegetation in Mining Regions in the Northeastern Brazilian Amazo. Environmental Management, v. 69, n. 2, p. 438-448, FEB 2022. (18/12475-7)

SIQUEIRA-GAY, JULIANA; SANCHEZ, LUIS E.. Keep the Amazon niobium in the ground. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY, v. 111, p. 1-6, SEP 2020. (18/12475-7)

SIQUEIRA-GAY, JULIANA; METZGER, JEAN PAUL; SANCHEZ, LUIS E.; SONTER, LAURA J.. Strategic planning to mitigate mining impacts on protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon. NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, v. 5, n. 10, p. 8-pg., 2022-07-28. (18/12475-7)