annexure-ra7-part-2-of-d30f1165fbad3b3e.pdf

This guide provides a framework for integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services into the mining life cycle in South Africa. It details the application of the mitigation hierarchy—avoidance, minimisation, rehabilitation, and offsetting—across various stages of mining, from reconnaissance to decommissioning and closure. The document emphasizes the role of Environmental Management Programmes (EMPs) and the necessity of robust financial provision for environmental remediation, particularly when operating in biodiversity priority areas.

• The mitigation hierarchy for mining activities must be applied in a specific order of priority: first to avoid or prevent loss to biodiversity and ecosystem services, then to minimise impacts, followed by concurrent or progressive rehabilitation, and finally to offset significant residual negative impacts.
• Impacts on biodiversity priority areas, such as Critical Biodiversity Areas, are generally considered to be of 'very high' significance regardless of the current habitat condition, unless it is demonstrated that other landscape options exist to meet biodiversity targets.
• Biodiversity offsets are the final stage of the mitigation hierarchy and are required when significant residual impacts remain after avoidance, minimisation, and rehabilitation efforts. These offsets must be formally protected or secured and effectively managed.
• Mining companies are legally responsible for environmental damage, pollution, or ecological degradation caused by their activities both inside and outside the boundaries of the area defined by their rights or permits, as per Section 2 and Section 28 of NEMA.
• The Environmental Management Programme (EMP) serves as the enforceable blueprint for managing environmental impacts. It must include baseline information, impact assessments, a schedule for mitigation, and an estimate of costs for rehabilitation and management.
• Closure planning must begin at the project feasibility stage. The goal of rehabilitation during closure should be to restore indigenous biodiversity to its natural state rather than simply re-vegetating the area.
• In the reconnaissance stage, mining companies should rapidly assess the biodiversity significance of an area to reduce risks such as unnecessary mitigation costs, delays in authorisation, and reputational consequences.
• During the prospecting stage, it is critical to identify 'fatal flaws' and factor full rehabilitation costs into the project's economics to avoid overestimating financial viability.
• For mining in biodiversity priority areas, the guide recommends independent peer review by qualified specialists and resource economists of the full economic valuation and impact assessments to ensure key risks are identified.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). annexure-ra7-part-2-of-d30f1165fbad3b3e.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annexure-RA7-Part-2-of-.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. annexure-ra7-part-2-of-d30f1165fbad3b3e.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annexure-RA7-Part-2-of-.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=annexure-ra7-part-2-of-d30f1165fbad3b3e.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annexure-RA7-Part-2-of-.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndannexurera7part2ofd30f1165fbad3b3epdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{annexure-ra7-part-2-of-d30f1165fbad3b3e.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annexure-RA7-Part-2-of-.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }