Mining Operations Drive Significant Indirect Deforestation Across Sub-Saharan Africa

A comprehensive study published in Nature reveals that mining operations in sub-Saharan Africa are responsible for far more forest loss than previously estimated. While direct land clearing for pits, tailing ponds, and infrastructure accounted for 187,000 hectares of deforestation between 2001 and 2020, the indirect impact is significantly larger. Researchers found that for every hectare cleared directly for mining, an average of 34 additional hectares of forest are lost within five years due to ancillary activities, such as the expansion of settlements and agriculture facilitated by new roads and infrastructure.

The research, which analyzed over 16,000 mine sites, highlights a persistent environmental footprint that extends well beyond the immediate mining area. Deforestation rates remain elevated up to 20 kilometers from mine sites for at least a decade after operations begin. Notably, mines extracting cobalt and copper—minerals essential for the global energy transition—were linked to the highest levels of offsite forest loss, underscoring a complex tension between the demand for green technology and the preservation of tropical ecosystems.

These findings suggest that current environmental impact assessments often drastically underestimate the true ecological cost of mining projects by focusing only on the direct footprint. To achieve sustainable supply chains and meet 'no-net-loss' biodiversity goals, the authors argue that policymakers and industry leaders must incorporate these indirect, offsite deforestation risks into their planning. Addressing this 'hidden' deforestation is critical for protecting the remaining intact tropical forests in Africa as the global demand for mineral resources continues to climb.