zo-40-8a30a51be886cbdd.pdf

This guide outlines a four-tier classification system for biodiversity priority areas to regulate mining activities. It specifies that mining is generally prohibited in the highest-importance areas (e.g., National Parks and Ramsar Sites) and requires rigorous environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and potential biodiversity offsets for areas of high or moderate importance to ensure environmental sustainability.

• The guideline establishes four categories of biodiversity priority areas based on importance, with the highest importance category including Protected Areas (such as National Parks and World Heritage Sites), Critically endangered and endangered ecosystems, Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs) with a 1km buffer, and Ramsar Sites. Mining in these areas is generally prohibited in Protected Areas, though it may be allowed in Protected Environments with approval from both the Minister of Mineral Resources and the Minister of Environmental Affairs.
• For areas of highest biodiversity importance, the likelihood of a 'fatal flaw' for new mining projects is considered very high due to the significance of biodiversity features and ecosystem services. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for these areas must include a strategic assessment of optimum, sustainable land use, considering environmental sensitivity, socio-economic costs and benefits, and the strategic importance of the minerals.
• Areas of high biodiversity importance include protected area buffers, Transfrontier Conservation Areas, high water yield areas, the Coastal Protection Zone, and estuarine functional zones. In these areas, mining options may be limited, and authorizations may include limits on activities or requirements for biodiversity offsets.
• Areas of moderate biodiversity importance include ecological support areas and vulnerable ecosystems. For these areas, EIAs and specialist studies should focus on confirming biodiversity features and identifying threatened species not present in existing datasets to guide the mitigation hierarchy.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). zo-40-8a30a51be886cbdd.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZO-40.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. zo-40-8a30a51be886cbdd.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZO-40.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=zo-40-8a30a51be886cbdd.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZO-40.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndzo408a30a51be886cbddpdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{zo-40-8a30a51be886cbdd.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ZO-40.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }