The demand of the global economy for metals and minerals is steadily increasing. The expansion of mining activities has led to significant loss of forests, in particular in tropical countries.

This study by WWF in cooperation with WU’s Institute for Ecological Economics and Satelligence presents the first global assessment of direct and indirect forest loss related to the extraction of natural resources.

It highlights that tropical and sub-tropical forests are the most affected ecosystems and that 84% of the direct deforestation impacts of mining in the past 20 years took place in only 10 countries.

Coal and gold together account for more than 70% of global forest loss induced by mining, with mineral demand in foreign countries and sectors being an important driver for resource extraction and related deforestation.

The full study can be downloaded here.