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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the conflict between extractive industries and the conservation of Protected Areas (PAs) and World Heritage (WH) sites in Africa. It argues for the strict enforcement of 'no-go zones' in WH sites and the implementation of rigorous biodiversity management standards for mining in other PAs to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

This report summarizes a February 2015 midterm review meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, regarding an international project led by Natural Justice and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The project, which began in July 2013, examines the development and use of biocultural community protocols (BCPs) to help Indigenous peoples and local communities safeguard their rights and interests when engaging with extractive industries and infrastructure development.

This report, published by Natural Justice and Namati, synthesizes strategies and lessons from a 2013 symposium of 20 expert advocates working to protect community lands and natural resources across Africa. It provides a practitioner-focused guide to confronting threats such as state-driven mega-projects, large-scale land concessions, and exclusionary conservation. The document emphasizes the importance of community self-definition, the use of biocultural community protocols, and the necessity of multi-pronged advocacy strategies that combine legal education, community mobilization, and strategic engagement with government and media.

This research paper by Natural Justice examines the dynamics of community-company engagements in the extractive industries, focusing on the power imbalances between corporations and indigenous or local communities. It outlines various types of agreements, evaluates the effectiveness of different engagement models (government-led vs. community-led), and provides a comprehensive overview of international human rights standards and legal frameworks that govern these interactions.

This report by Natural Justice provides a comprehensive review of Mozambique's legal and policy frameworks regarding the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples to land and natural resources. It examines the tension between progressive laws, such as the 1997 Land Law, and a trend toward 're-concentration' of power by the State to facilitate large-scale extractive and agricultural investments. The document highlights systemic failures in community consultation, the marginalization of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), and the impact of resettlement projects in the mining sector.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in December 2014, provides an overview of regional and international grievance and advocacy mechanisms available to indigenous peoples and local communities. It categorizes these tools into UN human rights systems, regional human rights systems, international and regional financial institutions, industry-specific standards, and other advocacy opportunities, detailing eligibility, processes, and potential barriers for each.

This policy brief examines the role of the extractive industries (EIs) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and argues for a shift from 'trickle-down economics' toward an inclusive green growth strategy to mitigate environmental degradation and social harm.

This amicus curiae brief, submitted by member organizations of the El Salvador National Roundtable on Mining (La Mesa) via the Center for International Environmental Law, argues that El Salvador's denial of a mining exploitation concession to Pac Rim Cayman LLC was consistent with international human rights and environmental obligations. The brief contends that the state must implement regulatory frameworks to protect citizens from the risks of extractive industries, particularly in water-scarce regions, and that public interest should be defined through environmental democracy and access rights.

This amicus curiae brief, submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on behalf of members of the Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica de El Salvador, argues that El Salvador's regulatory measures regarding the 'El Dorado' mining project are consistent with international human rights and environmental obligations. The document contends that the state must protect citizens from the risks of extractive industries, particularly in water-scarce and densely populated areas, and that public interest is defined through environmental democracy and the rights of access to information and participation.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) documents violence and human rights violations against environmental defenders between November 2011 and October 2013. It argues that these attacks are a global trend driven by a neoliberal extractive model that prioritizes corporate profit over the rights of nature and people. The document details various forms of repression—including criminalization, arbitrary detention, and targeted killings—and evaluates the effectiveness of international solidarity and legal strategies in protecting defenders.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the relationship between mineral resource dependence and development in Africa, using South Africa as a primary case study. It argues that the 'resource curse' is not deterministic and that the quality of development depends on the strength and nature of a country's institutions, which mediate political incentives and determine whether mineral wealth leads to inclusive growth or adverse governance outcomes.

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law provides an overview of cases from 2013 involving the harassment, criminalization, and killing of land and environmental rights defenders globally. It highlights the systemic risks faced by individuals opposing extractive industries, large-scale development projects, and land grabbing, noting that these defenders are often targeted by both state forces and non-state actors, including corporations.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for the release of Berta Cáceres and other activists in Honduras, alleging state-sponsored violence and corporate persecution of indigenous and peasant defenders of ancestral territories.

This policy briefing analyzes the proposed corporate governance framework for Uganda's forthcoming national oil company (NOC), comparing it with the state-owned enterprise (SOE) model in Norway. The author argues that Uganda's current legislative approach is insufficient and recommends adopting stakeholder-oriented guidelines and a centralized supervisory body similar to Norway's Department of State Ownership to prevent corruption and government interference.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments on the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill, 2012, arguing that while the application of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) to mining is welcome, the Bill fails to adequately protect community rights, ensure transparency, or establish a fair penalty system.

This policy briefing argues that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Mozambique (MEITI) is largely ineffective at preventing the diversion of public funds because it monitors payments after they have already been reduced through secret fiscal negotiations and mispricing. The author contends that the most significant losses occur during the negotiation of fiscal regimes and the declaration of the tax base, stages that remain shrouded in secrecy and are outside the current scope of MEITI.

A joint statement addressed to the President of Guatemala by a coalition of national and international organizations, urging the strengthening of the Instancia de Análisis de Ataques a Defensores de Derechos Humanos to protect human rights defenders, particularly those opposing large-scale extractive projects.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International detailing human rights violations and state repression of anti-mining protests in Argentina, highlighting the conflict between large-scale extractive projects and the rights to water and a healthy environment.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International condemning the Peruvian government's violent repression of environmental defenders and protesters opposing mining projects, specifically the Conga project led by Newmont.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International condemning the Peruvian government's violent response to environmental protests against mining projects, specifically citing deaths and injuries in El Espinar, Bambamarca, and Celedín, as well as the detention of Father Marco Arana.